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Qasim Ibrahim; Leading by Example

The Epitome of a Maldivian Dream

By Mariyam Mohamed - Monday, 30th August 2004

I have often wondered what it is that we Maldivians aspire to be most. This is a hard question to answer. Simply because not everybody thinks alike. But I believe that they are all wanting a society that is free from ignorance and tyranny, where opportunity is the right of every Maldivian regardless of where you are from or who you are related to.

Qasim Ibrahim is one of those few Maldivians who dared to have a dream and the will to follow it.

He was the poor Island boy who worked as a 'lowly' servant in Mrs. Gayyoom's house. He paid his dues to society through hard work, and ended up being the richest known Maldivian today. By Qasim's own admission his net fortune today is worth somewhere around 4 Billion Dhivehi Rufiyaa which makes him the wealthiest man in the Maldives. He is the countries largest private employer and makes up the largest proportion of the Gross Domestic Produce from the private sector. Even with all this wealth, his modest dressing style reflects his humble beginnings and is testament to how hard it must have been to come to where he is today.

Qasim's ambitions to go as far as he could was greatly enhanced (or rather blessed) by his philanthropist work. He helped many poor Maldivians to get expensive medical treatment overseas. Similarly, Villa Scholarship scheme ensured that he had a small army of western educated people who owed much to him and who remain loyal to their Hero. While he never forced any of the student he educated to work for him, many were glad to give something back to the 'man' who paved the way into their future. He has helped train doctors, economists, business managers, forensic scientists, accountants, etc. Experts in every field you can imagine that is relevant to the development of the Nation he loves. He also helped many of the people he educated to start up their own business and be independent in their daily affairs. And nothing was owed to Gasim by these people. It was always a gesture of doing the right thing for his fellow countrymen and giving something back to the society that has given him so much. With all this, he always made sure that he was a people person. He was always always directly contactable and never too busy when it really mattered. Qasim also being a liberal democrat, many analysts believe he is the right person to lead the Maldives, post-Gayyoom's brutal dictatorship.

My intention in writing this article is not to promote Qasim as a 'President in waiting' but to look at one very important aspect of this very important Maldivian personality.

When I think of Qasim Ibrahim I am proud to be a Maldivian. He is proof there is hope, that the unachievable can be achieved. Like many of us he came to the big city from his poor island home, leaving his family and childhood friends behind, looking for an education and for opportunity, to be all he was naturally capable of being. He worked tirelessly to succeed in life and be a model citizen. To the common man Qasim represents hope. He is a role model for great many Maldivians. He has set a standard that we must all thrive to achieve - simply because its attainable. Gasim is the living proof of this. Gayyoom is now calling Qasim a traitor because Qasim is fighting for the good of the majority of Maldivians. Gayyoom changes his tone when it suits him. This is what he said about Qasim at the opening ceremony of Sun Island Resort in 1999.

"Mr. Qasim Ibrahim is indeed a self-made man, displaying the virtues of hard work, versatility and vision. He has been involved in trading and shipping for over two decades. Today he is a major Maldivian ship owner and operator. In recent years he has also become a key player in the tourism industry. He now owns or operates a number of resort hotels in the Maldives with a combined bed capacity of over 1,700. I am pleased to note that Mr. Qasim Ibrahim is the first Maldivian to secure a loan from the International Finance Co-operation (IFC), which has an impressive track record in identifying and backing commercially viable enterprises. He is also the winner of three national awards for his outstanding contributions to trade and tourism development. His achievements show that opportunity awaits those with vision, energy and drive. Starting from almost scratch, he has set a fine example for others to emulate." Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom (1999)

Qasim is a living Maldivian Dream. He epitomises what we all aspire to achieve. Gayyoom by arresting and torturing Qasim is warning the Maldivian people that we cannot dream. Gayyoom should not be allowed to crush our dreams. People of the Maldives should never sit back and leave his fate at the hands of a dictator if we truly believe in our future, in our land and in our dreams.