2008 would mark a point of no return!

The year 2008 would be written in our history as a pivotal juncture in the broader picture. Whether it gets recorded as a starting point of a bright future, or whether it gets recorded as a point of decline and destruction, is up to us. Either way it appears that 2008 would mark a point of no return.
The most important thing that would decide the fate of 2008, and the fate of our future, I believe, is who will win the upcoming presidential election. If, as Gayyoom wishes, he gets elected - by hook or by crook – it will be the darkest day in our life. The country and its entire people are crying for a change; yet the old man who has suppressed and controlled us for the past 30 years is still running for presidency. He has overseen the systematic destruction of our religion and economy. A whole generation is drifting with no cultural or religious anchor.
Widespread corruption and favoritism and nepotism in the Gayyoom regime has stifled the need for hard work. Weak and corrupt characters are rewarded while hard working and ethical people are suppressed. The creation of the Civil Service Commission and its fair functioning may go a long way in changing this culture. It is the collective hope of all of us that we start to change this corrupt culture this year.
The shape of our future will also be decided by whether we are able to control the mushrooming drugs crisis in the country. When I say “drugs crisis” I include the current problems in dealing with the medical drugs as well. As reported in the local media recently, many pharmacies are selling so-called controlled drugs without any prescriptions from doctors. Some youth are abusing “cough syrup” as an alcoholic drink. Many elderly people are being slowly poisoned because they are taking medical drugs that were prescribed by doctors long ago but without renewal. There seems to be no control in the business of medical drugs. Quality control is also an issue here. Maldives seems to be a dumping ground for poor-quality medical drugs from third world countries such as India and Pakistan.
Coupled with this grave problem in the medical drugs, we have even graver crises in narcotics drugs. This crisis needs no further explanation, as it is clear to everyone that the growing gang violence and robberies and many other social ills are directly or indirectly related to the mushrooming narcotic-drugs crisis in the country.
The dramatic growth of the tourism industry without a proper plan for the expansion of the related infrastructure is another crisis that is looming high. Gayyoom couldn’t care less. He wants the millions of dollars in advance, for these islands. He doesn’t care how the tourists are transported or whether the investors can recover their investments. Naturally, as an old man in his seventies, he is thinking of the short term – maybe the next five years. But the lack of a proper infrastructure for the growing tourism industry could become a major economic problem if we do not plan for this.
Another crisis that is cooking is the incredible rising of the food prices in the world market and in our country. There does not seem to be any signs that the food prices could go down in the near future. Coupled with the rise in the price of crude oil, the increases in food prices could escalate in to a worldwide depression. Being a small country with a fragile economy, the middle class and the lower class of the country could be hard-hit if we don’t get a responsible leadership who could plan and guide us through these murky waters.