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The real problem we face today in Maldives

by a DO Reader, Maldives 6th October 2004

Thousands of Maldivians took part on a peaceful demonstration on 13th August 2004 calling for greater democracy

Investments in the Fisheries sector is state controlled - people of the island are disadvantaged

Enviable tourism industry - corrupt and belongs to the elite only

Maldivians are hard working people

Signs of national power and pride but are the people of Maldives proud of this elite rule?

We have seen lot of debates about the rights and well-being of the people. Speakers with different points of view have been criticising the policies of the current government. It seems that none of these groups realize the nature of the real problem we are facing today.

Our biggest challenge is the distribution of the wealth of Maldives. We know this country has the highest GDP in the South Asia region, but the majority of Maldivians live below the poverty line. People in the islands do not have access to economic opportunity; they live in extreme conditions with no proper housing nor staple foods available for them. People are isolated and naive, education is limited, and the population is suffering from bigotry and depression. Where does the money go, and why?

The major income earner for the Maldives is Tourism and this industry is controlled by foreigners. The country has not created a professional local workforce to maximise the benefits of tourism for Maldivians. Over the last twenty-six years, Gayyoom's government has failed to train and educate Maldivians to run the industry. Today, expatriates consume the biggest proportion of the tourism pie and the locals have become second class citizens economically.

It is obvious that the world has enough people, and many of them are seeking opportunities to exploit any available resource. Perhaps because Maldives is a tiny country, there are lot of ruthless people who would do anything to exploit it at the expense of the country's own poor population. The resorts are a key part of this exploitation.

Foreign investment is important to maintain foreign currency inflows. The invitation to foreign investors was not a mistake; it was a wise thing to do and must be encouraged on a much larger scale than the way we operate now.

Few of the foreign companies who sought tax refuge in this country have actively worked to alleviate poverty in Maldives. Claiming to employ the professionals that Maldives lacks, many of these foreign companies have infested the country with opportunists. They bribe corrupt authorities to avoid already limited regulations, and import large numbers of foreign employees. Some of these companies are managed along imperialist guidelines -- employing people but also making absolute efforts that the locals are kept in check and never able to reach a level that would enable them to do the work of the foreigners.

In some of the resorts headed by vindictive foreigners, locals are treated badly because Maldives has no legal system to safeguard the rights of its own working people. Despite their good performance, Maldivians working under foreign management are sometimes demoralized, demoted, and forced to work under incompetent foreigners. Who will protect Maldivians' fundamental rights to work decently and earn according to their performance, experience and knowledge? Is it their destiny to work forever under racist foreigners? These foreigners are pampered and self-interested, and work only in the financial interest of their companies.

Should we blame these foreigners for this abuse? The Gayyoom government has approved it. Many human beings will unfairly exploit others if given the opportunity, and it is the government's duty to protect their people. How could anyone believe the government is influenced by patriotic ideas? Corruption, mismanagement and selfishness are the dominant forces in Gayyoom's administration.

From a long-term point of view, we see nothing but failure for the existing regime. In the remote islands, people are so naive and ignorant that they do not understand how the government is letting them down. No proper housing, health, sanitation and clean water are available in many islands. People in Male' are also not living in good conditions. Rents are so high and the average income earner cannot afford to rent a house. Two or three families get together and rent a very small apartment and live in totally congested place. As a result, frustrated young people try to find a refuge from their environment and get involved in anti-social behaviour, like drug addiction and burglary. How is it possible to create a responsible law-abiding generation within such a society. Who to blame for this? It is obvious that it is the failure of Gayyoom's regime.

The government has no plan for the future of Maldives' isolated and scattered population. Instead of planning viable projects, the government tries to satisfy the islanders by providing high cost electricity, telephones and harbours to small islands without employment opportunities. Why has the Government not planned to bring the country's people to a few selected larger Islands and given them a decent life? Some might say that people did not want to move. But the government has been happy to use an iron fist to silence its opposition; maybe it could have used the same determination to give people some hope for the future, rather than keep them isolated and ignorant.

This government is claiming that the people have elected them. There was a calculated and systemic plan to show the elections to the world. Whywould people support a man who has done so little for them? The government spends lots money to keep the average man in the dark. The people who support Gayyoom do so not because he has done anything improve their life, but because of absolute fear created by religious propaganda and torture, rape and deaths in custody.

Peaceful political opposition can mean a death sentence in Maldives. The people of this country are the same as anyone else, but their expectations are low and they have been living in a culture where there was little political awareness. Many Maldivians are living similar lives to those of their ancestors hundreds of years ago.

Can the Gayyoom government survive in a changing world? Maybe its days are numbered. Many educated and elite know that Gayyoom is a failed man and a dictator, but the question is, can they bring him down?

The opposition represents majority opinion in Maldives. It must use better tactics if it wants to end this tyranny. The opposition must understand that people's power is real power. It must run programs to educate people about what good administration is, and what they should reasonably expect from government. Fear of the government, which is embedded and engraved in Maldive minds, is difficult to change because of long-term abuse by rulers. Educate the public of their rights, and good will win over evil.