:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Are we helpless?

Mariyam Mohamed - 14th October 2004

Maldives is facing the most challenging times of its life. A peaceful populace is being used by the elite of the country to fulfil their evil deeds. Past 26 years has been the worst of times that most of the intellectuals were bought with money under government pre-planned agenda.

People with higher degrees from western and other education institutions are obliged to serve the Maldives government. Most of the highly trained and educated individuals get their training through scholarships provided by foreign countries. Maldives government takes advantage of these opportunities provided to Maldivians by tying a government bond to each of these higher education opportunities. After completing the training or education graduates cannot serve in the private sector as the government restricts their service only to government employment. The service period can range from 2 years to 7 years. Though this guarantees employment it is not without a huge drawback.

Where the graduates or the trained have to serve is solely decided by the government. People with training and higher degrees tend to serve in areas where their training has no productive advantage in that particular area. Engineers and other practical field graduates serve in unrelated fields. But they cannot seek or apply for any other job as they are tied up to one particular government department or to a job that President's office thinks best suites that person.

The training or undergraduate years of these aspiring individuals are full of ideas and optimism. They return back with hope that they can bring positive change to the society. However, when they start their career in the red tape driven government jobs they find themselves in a system where only the corrupt and ruthless can succeed. The university education and research they did no longer applies in the new environment. Technically qualified find themselves useless and incompetent.

Maldives government system does not reward the innocent hard working civil servants but the corrupt who praise their ministers and bureaucrats reach the top. In a society where alternative opportunities are non existent they have to make a choice either to be jobless or to top up their title by being a player in the corrupt government.

Maumoon Gayyoom's dictatorial government has been using these opportunities for its advantage. People with doctorate degrees in the Maldives are given senior level posts in the government. It is a trend in Gayyoom's government to give ministerial portfolios to doctorates even if the person lacks leadership or management experience. The Maldives society has always valued and respected their learned people. They looked up to them for inspirations and motivation. Keeping the doctorates in the government ministerial portfolios Gayyoom expects to get peoples blessing.

The learned and formally qualified individuals in the Gayyoom's administration should think hard. They should think about providing a better future for their children where they are not deprived of basic human rights like today. Freedom of speech, right to assembly, freedom of thought, self determination are not guaranteed under current regime. A society which confirms these values will definitely be a better society for everyone.

The learned should think whether their action today will create a society where these rights are taken granted and wealth is fairly distributed. It is the duty of doctorates and trained graduates to make Maldives a free country and islands of opportunity. If you fail us the majority of the people will not forgive you for what you have done.

People like Dr. Saeed, Dr. Luthfee, Dr. Shaheed, Dr Fathin Hameed and Dr Shauqee have a moral obligation to Maldivians and her young to create a tolerant free society. Please do not be a part of the crimes committed by the Gayyoom’s government for the sake of title you hold. Your children will not want them to be helpless and lost under a suppressive regime.