It was nice to see the Vice President come out of the shell (or rather given the opportunity to come out of the shell) a few times over the last couple of days. In one such outing, VP Waheed was sitting with Waheeduddeen at a press briefing at the President’s Office today. The press briefing was regarding the government’s policy on decentralisation or local governance. Waheeduddeen was there due to the fact that it was during his time as the Atolls Minister during Gayyoom’s regime that the idea of local governance first came to the public fold.
I fully support the quick implementation of this policy and give 100% support to the whole idea. I hope that the Parliament (Majlis) will give full approval and backing to the government in the implementation of this policy. I would like to mention some pointers that we can ponder regarding this policy.
1. Could we give a corporate title such as “Managing Director” to the Island Katheeb?
Each island will of course have an Island Council. The members of this Council will be elected by the people of the island. The members can then vote amongst themselves to elect a head of the Council. This person will in effect be the head or the “Katheeb” of the island. Will we call him the “Katheeb” or could we give a corporate title such as “Managing Director”? Since the basis of all development is economics, it could very well have a positive effect if we give such a corporate title to the “Katheeb”! Now if we follow this idea, we could have an “Island Council” in each island and every island would have a “Managing Director”!
2. Could we change the Atoll Chief’s title to “Mayor”?
Now all these Managing Directors could automatically sit as elected members of the Atoll Council. A head of this Atoll Council would be elected by the members of the Council. This “head” of the Atoll Council would in effect be the Atoll Chief. Could we then change the Atoll Chief’s title as “Mayor”?
3. Could we call the “Provincial Minister” in each region the “Governor” of the region?
Since the country will be divided into seven regions for local governance, there will be two or more atolls in each region. The region would be run by a Regional Council. The heads of all Atoll Councils could automatically sit on the Regional Council as elected members. The members of this Regional Council could then vote amongst themselves and elect a head of this Council. This person will report direct to the “Provincial Minister”. Could we call the “Provincial Minister” in each region the “Governor” of the region?
4. Each provincial region could be addressed as a separate “State”!
Now, if we call each head of the region, the “Governor”, then we could address each region as a “State”! Hence, the country will have seven States and each state will have a Governor, and every atoll would have a Mayor and each island would have a Managing Director!
Greta idea man!
ReplyDeletebushrey
ReplyDeleteare u kidding
Addu and Fuvamulah or "Mulahddu" consists of these two atolls (I am not sure of the composition of the other 6 states), I am wondering how to vote for governor if one state consists of 2, 4 or even 6 atolls (all those with even number), of course if two Mayors vote for a same person as a governor there wont be any problem, but if not... perhaps throw a dice (in that case we need two governors to be shortlisted for this).
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is do it more formally, professionally and in a more democratic manner.
In this upcoming parliamentary election why do not we vote for all these? We print ballot papers for all the following principals:
1. MPs
2. Island Councils
3. Managing Director
4. Mayors and
5. Governors
Of course it comes with a cost and administrative difficulties, but it is worth doing it. In this the voice of every one is counted. We have already wasted an opportunity to do this during the presidential election (because of that fact that our MPs were complacent and failed to make necessary legislation before we had presidential election).
Hello "MMA). I agree that it is an idea worth consideration (voting for Councils and Governors and Mayors) during the Palrimentary election. This will be like catching two fish with one hook....saves expenses too. Worth consideration indeed.
ReplyDeleteM.A.H that is :-)
ReplyDeletebushry your are sold to resort owners right?
ReplyDeleteyou have been sstrangly silent on that.
the talks of decentralization is just a haox. the way they are gonana do all teh islands will do the work and wont have control over any resources. have to depend on central government and beg for money. how nice.
we demand control of all islands withing the atoll be given to atoll so that they can use it for various investment and pay tax to central government from profits.
why cant herethere be a public company owned by addu ppl.
why cant dhonakulhi, manafru be a public company owned by haalaif atoll.
why cant kuruba be owned by ppl of male'
why cant one n only reethirah be owned by b. atoll ppl
the point is resort owners, the ppl and the government has to find fair and workable solution. and stop stealing our land.
Dear "ANONYMOUS 27/11/08 16:29"... please don't make such a hasty conclusion. I'm not sold to anyone - certainly not to the resort owners. The idea of extending the lease of the resort to 50 years is a sticky issue for me also. I have thought about it a lot. This isn't an extension of 50 years; it's more like an extension of 15 years on top of the existing 35 years. An extension of 15 years could be justifiable if the amount of corporate tax levied on the resort owners is significant. Such a tax would be on top of the resort-rent and the bed tax, so it will increase state earnings...which will naturally help widen developmental projects. I know for a fact that some resort operators such as Banyan Tree are reluctant to invest more in their islands because of the limited length of the lease period. Can you imagine someone investing 70 million dollars in an island when he has 35 years to recover that? That's 2 million dollars per year. Add the loan-interest on top of that...and one has to do a lot of business to get a profit from that. So, extending the lease for a further 15 years is, I suppose, justifiable if a good corporate tax system is introduced for resorts.
ReplyDeletemanaging director sounds too corporate. rest is fine,except for the point that M.A.H raised. thats a good point. Last US election you saw this was done along with presidential ballots.
ReplyDeleteChanging the subject a bit, can you guys tell me your views on the militant attacks still continuing in Mumbai! Sorry guys, but its just crazy. it reminds me of Sultan park bombing (well not much of a bombing). Can our security and safety be increased that something like this does not happen in Maldives again.
the title KATHEEB is associated with corruption. so a loyal man shud not b given the title. almost all katheebs have a label of corruption on their back. n if v give the title katheeb there is no way u cud stop associating them with the 'traditional' katheebs
ReplyDeleteWhats so significant about changing external attributes such as labels..Lets change banguraa to juice ?
ReplyDelete"Changing the subject a bit, can you guys tell me your views on the militant attacks still continuing in Mumbai! Sorry guys, but its just crazy. it reminds me of Sultan park bombing (well not much of a bombing). Can our security and safety be increased that something like this does not happen in Maldives again."
ReplyDeleteProximity to India means Maldives also become vulnerable..What we can do is to educate ppl so that they dont become terrorists
bush its a cool idea to give names as mayor, MD, govonor ... n states to the seven region..these names sounds mo like anyother country in the world so kool...
ReplyDeleteHi Bush,
ReplyDeleteHypothetically speaking, you are sold to the resort owners as you have admitted in your rebuttal comment. I'm totally against the idea of extending the lease period of resorts. It's constitutionally, legally, ethically, morally and whatevercally wrong to simply the lease period of the resorts to 50 years without getting consent from the rightful owners of these resorts (all Maldivian people). We should go for a public referendum in the upcoming parliamentary election. As one commenter mentioned, we could use the same ballot paper used for the general election.
Cool...very cool..
ReplyDeleteOur army is now ruled by ex convicts, 2 people that was dis honourably discharged from army. Ameen Faisal and Shahid (DB) this is a shame on our country, disgrace to the army and a slap on the face of those who lost loved one on November 3rd agression... Bushry praise the President for appointing them please.
I wont be surprised, when i hear Sagarey and Luthufee appointed as Ministers, and the terrorist leader decorated with all the medals we have.
Dear "Anonymous27/11/08 19:47". Personally I think Amin Faisal will be a better defence minsiter than Ismail Shafeeu. Before any of you say that Amin Faisal does this and that, let me say that Ismail Shafeeu isn't an engel either. Let's give Amin a chance. I don't understand how he can do a worse job than Shafeeu. As for Shahid (or DB as you say); I know Shahid verey well. He will be a better minsiter of state for defence than Anbaree. I don't understand why somepeople are obsessed with Ziyaattey and Amin and Meemu Sappe and all being ministers. Maybe soem of the young DRP guys don't know that Gayyoom's gang (Umar Zahir, samarey, Ilyas, etc) are uneducated guys who were shouting and roaming around the streets before they inherited top posts. Gayyoom's conmen had a polished cover while MDP's guys are perhaps uncut (rough) stones that need time to be polished.
ReplyDeletehey hey hey, Mr Presidents poodle, did I compare Ameen Faisal with anyone?, I said they are a disgrace to the army, as an army officer I say this and I will continue to say this.
ReplyDeleteITS A BLOODY DISGRACE TO THE ARMY, A SLAP ON THE FACE OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.
YOU ARE SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLORS MR POODLE.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND...
ReplyDeleteMALDIVES IS A UNITARY STATE.
NOW DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MANY STATES OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
THIS TYPE OF FEDERAL SYSTEM IS RUN IN COUNTRIES WHICH WERE UNITED AFTER THEY WERE INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES.
BUSHRY,..PLEASE GO AWAY FROM BLOGGING FOR A WEEK AND COME BACK..
this is not your idea.
ReplyDeletebushry, suppose if current government change the dhivehi vantha name "Katheeb, Atholhuverin" today and another bushry will come up one day and blaming us for changing english vantha names
ReplyDeleteI agree totally that the new minister and state minister to the Ministry of Defense is a laugh. Moosa jaleel who saved this nation from the mercenaries, is now saluting DB Shahid, the guy who sold this country to the mercenaries! Now wouldn't you say this is a big time joke?
ReplyDeleteI would not be surprised if Karoa Abbas also got a post in the same ministry and I suggest next year we do not celebrate victory day! November 3rd will not exist in our clanedar next yr, it will jump from November 2nd to November 4th! God save this nation please!
if i am reading the propaganda spinned by MDP media outlets correctly, we will soon hear parliament declaring theemuge as the presidential palace and anni can say that the parliament had decided not him.
ReplyDeleteSo far what the dudes at www.newdhivehiobserver.com published had come true.
Read this http://newdhivehiobserver.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post_27.html
hey "DD", I think u raised a very valid point. The world has suddenly gone crazy.
ReplyDelete1. The financial meltdown.
2. The abnormal rise and then the abnormal fall of oil prices.
3. The recent terror attacks in Bombay (India)...etc.
Can the world economy withstand this and many other conflicts? What will happen to this small country (Maldives) if the religious fundamentalists suddenly attack a resort (as in the Bombay-Oberoi case)? Are we ready for such a thing? What are we doing to avoid a head-on collision with such fundamentalists? We cannot calm down such forces by using aggression but we have to use long-term, un confrontational policies.
Are we ready for a terrible eventuality if it happens…and are we doing enough to avoid such an eventuality even if we are ready to face such a situation?
We recently raised the unfairness of the recently introduced retirement regulation of MNDF. Now we welcome the fact that the Defense Ministry has temporarily suspended that regulation for a thorough review. We hope that when the regulation finally comes into effect it will be more fair and balanced towards all ranks of service-personnel.
ReplyDeleteLifes are coming to an end. The world will eventually come to an end. Are we doing enuf to get ready for this. The life after death.
ReplyDeletewat has it got to do with english vantha o dhivehi vantha o rather English n Dhinglish names. y do u bother!!! v don mind as long as they perform their duties accordingly.
ReplyDelete"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."- Shakespeare
once u start using the words it wud become Dhinglish. thats one reason y english has become a popular language. they were not hasitant to borrow words from LAtin, French, Germon,Italian, etc.
our language has not developed as we want because we always want soadhubey n others to make new words like finichakachaka n mas-noo-ee sikundi which ppl never use.
Well thats one way to look @it. but..Sometimes ppl to tend to live upto the "title/name". Katheeb is small man, Managing director is a big man. Now the small man tries to be the big man, (which he is). It does make sense. I think.
ReplyDeletehow about naming, Rah Hingaa veriyaa, Atholhu Hingaa veriyaa, sarahadhu hingaa veriyaa?
ReplyDeletenasheed eliminated duty of some items. he needs money to compensate for that and to impliment projects. the why on earth he did not propose a tax bill as an urgent measure.
ReplyDeletethis will be the end of MDP and jumhoory and nasheed himself. do you know you are betraying us.
we will do everything so that any of you guys will not have the majority of parliment.
the lesson we are learning now is giving majority to any one party is suicide. bills with merits that protect and national and public interest have to be passed if they want to get re-elected.
bills that protect a particular interest at the expense of public will easily pass if any party has the majority. becasue politicians are by nature corrput and the corrupt resort owners can buy one party easily but buying so many groups in parliment will be difficult.
so ppl wakeup. never ever give the majority of parliment to any party. vote for independants and ppl with integrity which is an endangered species in this country.
Bushry for president. end of story.
ReplyDeletea better name than MD would be Charge de Affairs which means the guy in charge
ReplyDeleteit is time for President Anni to invent some new Dhivehi words like Maumoon does.
ReplyDeleteInstead of Katheeb, why not use a title like Kaleyfaanu. It is an extremely responsible job of a community leader and a model citizen.
It is only the ignorant who would single out Katheebs as corrupt as if they have power. It is people with power that gets corrupt.
If Amin Faisal was involved in Nov 3rd, then why did Maumoon not include his name and Ahmed Rashid's name in the book on November 3rd which was brought out by the President's Office which included everyone else's name and photos and their statements? Can someone answer that please?
ReplyDeleteAbout Amin Faisal,well if the most hated person by a political party can become its ELECTED president(i.e Munnavar) everything is possible.And it happens only in Maldives
ReplyDeleteBushree said " Maybe soem of the young DRP guys don't know that Gayyoom's gang (Umar Zahir, samarey, Ilyas, etc) are uneducated guys who were shouting and roaming around the streets before they inherited top posts."
ReplyDeleteI thought you were trying to change all that and we are told that we have achieved some change.But you still keep using Maumoonu as the benchmark.
If the word Katheeb is associated with corruption,whats associated with customs officers? Taking bribe.What about the word 'fuluhun'? Killers?
ReplyDeleteWhat about ILMVERIN ? Ofcourse its hypocrisy.
What about politicians ? Liars
I dont see how changing labels is going to change the reality
Whats the word DHIVEHIN associated with ? Erratic and inconsistent
ReplyDeleteI think we should use the names Katheeb and Atholhuverin because these names are being used for a longtime and even easy to remeber, even if a foreigner wants to learn a bit Maldvian politics as well..!
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea to have a few name changes, surely ppl will have a different impression on the titles but i thnk managing director is not a very suitable name..., too corporate i think
ReplyDeleteManaging Director..???? hav a second thought Bush..., but rest seems to be fine
ReplyDeleteNo really, can our fources controll and do we have enough intelligence to track down such a militant attack. The geography of Maldives does not allow such a organised attack specially in touristic resorts, but still its a threat when they visit Male' and when we start tourism in local islands. These ani-west, Osama-lover, JIhad fanatics is unpredictable. Mr President, please make sure this does not happen to our nation. It has already sparked few months ago for the first time in Maldives and DID we take measurements to withhold these crazy ppl. Bushree can you write an article on these Mujahadeens. are there some in Maldives? Why do they think they have the right to kill others? what is their motives. Do they think they will go to heaven and have 13 beatiful women in service. bollocks!! Where's Yameen i want to hear your thoughts on this please!
ReplyDeleteIt was the violent culture of MDP that produced such fanatics in the country.Before this MDP thing came into existence,we never heard of such actions before.
ReplyDelete"The bearded Thugs of Maldives" is in Adalath, not MDP, or are they? I did not know.
ReplyDeleteBut all i am saying is that, they may be different now, lets not give them a chance to evolve in to Terrorist or make connections to the so called, shouthasian jiahdeens.
I thought adhaalath is controlled by MDP
ReplyDeletehey wat do u guys think abt givin a higher post to gogo latheef??? is he competent??? i don think anni's actions r goin inline with his words. all his comrades now in the frontline. how many state ministers yet to come!!! i think anni has already messed up with power. jennifa latheef gogo latheef amin faisal tsk tsk stk. let them drink n dance. i dont see this government any different from that of maumoons. he had his family members, realtives in the frontline. now we see the same. most of them who hold the senior government posts have become the laughing stock of many.
ReplyDeletedont get overworked with bombay bomings. its a israel and american plot to stop the economic progress of china and india. bombay is the economic hub. its also killing two birds with one stone. the bombings will be blamed on muslims so handful of them get arrested and icing on teh cake is booming economy of india slows down. so guys think before you speak.
ReplyDeletemilitant attacks on maldivian soil is also likely from within us. there is a drug population let lose. they will do anything for a bullet. few business men including qasim and yameen sponsers these thug groups. so you never know.
Do you think America and Israels economy will prosper due to this. okay they are scared of China and India becoming the number 1 economy, is it? i donot think it was parteys who plotted the first terrorist attack in Male' in Sultan park. It was bloody extremists.
ReplyDeleteIts an American plot to get India hooked on to the game plan of America.In the future India will be forced to share lots of its resources with America.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the terror guys came in boats.That too at a time when cases of sea piracy is on the rise.
What's in a title? Minister, State Minister, Human Rights Ambassor, Undersecretary, Special Envoy (?!), Deputy Minister, Katheeb, Governor, CEO, MD... does it really matter?
ReplyDeleteDefine what the job responsibilities are and check if they perform. If you change the title of the President to Keyolhu, or the Janitor to Environmental Services Associate, does it really matter?
We're too preoccupied with titles these days...
Mr. Bushry,
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me? By law/constitution Maldives is a Unitary state. The executive does not have the authority to change it to a federal system.
its not the time to balme each other.we know what we know by listening to various medias controlled by the west. how many times they got it wrong after the initial blame to Muslims.
ReplyDeletedont be a part of this propagenda machine. this will only devided the counry..be responsivble please..its time to united and do what we can to protect our beloved nation. play your part.
"blamed" on Muslims???? hehehehehehe That's gotta be a joke!!!
ReplyDeleteThe parteys cant carry out such highly planned actions.Such actions require to be in 'hama heyga 24 hours'
ReplyDeleteHimandhoo plot was not parteys work
Like the parteys we also have a huge problem of people blindly following scholars.
dont you have a problem by blindly following the west. its easy to carry out an attack and put blame on your enemy.its a century of tactic...wake up. America is the worst enemy to Human Rights. they are not a democratic country....
ReplyDeletebushry, miharu miulhey ministers aa state ministers aa ambassadors kairy bunedhee bala at least gaimathi reethikoggen thibeyshey. gina meehun fenuneema hee eh nuvey mi in zamaaneggaves fenverihenves. anekka dress up kura goiyves thankolhe rangalhu kurashey bunedheebala. eyrah at least heevaane dhen ministers henves ehen kameh nuvias. haadha hadikonney ekudhin thibeni. looks also matter. at least cleanliness shud b there. boa nukosha kudhinves konmes gothakah boluga funaa neylhias meehun lolah undhagu nuvaa gothah thibeyshe bunedhibala. dhen nubunathi anekka eiki muhimmu kameh nooney. decency matters
ReplyDeleteYes,the west maybe the mastermind behind it,but its some uneducated and highly charged Muslims who execute a part of it.Likewise the Wahhabis collaborated with MDP to win the election
ReplyDeleteHey boss you idea is great but my concern is if all atolls are going to elect without civil servants, do you think we will get fresh and quality people for those jobs, there are some atoll in maldives if we elect ppl from them, but enable to get that kind of MD's and mayor's so ... what is your idea
ReplyDeletei guess ur too dumb to comment on the proposed budget n its details. this is a very important issue right?
ReplyDeleteWe DONT WANT traitors like abdulla shahid and ameen faisal. it is abig slap on the faces of those who died for our religion and nation on 3rd november. hey anni, YOU BETRAYED US!!! either you sack them or you resign immediately. if we had known this there would ahve never voted you no matter what.
ReplyDeletehey bushry, don't compare amin faisal with ismail shafeeu. have we run out of capable people for these posts to appoint traitors who colluded with terrorists? just imagine what maldives would be like today if the plans of amin faisal and abdulla shahid were to win?? tamils would have killed all the local traitors aand declared their own state here in maldives!!! pls read a bit of the history of malaabaareen.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waheed is a very capable person and is the right man for President Nasheed. He has years of experience both here in the Maldives and in other developing countries. Together they can make necessary political adjustments to make the government perform better day by day. Give them sometime, it is going to take months if not years to undo the damage done during the last 30 years.
ReplyDeleteyeah, give them enough time and invite tamils to reconquer our nation. look at this http://opposeanni.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post_28.html
ReplyDeleteabdulla shahid buni nov 3rd attack ga eyna ge evves kusheh netho. nuhaggunno adhabu dhini. eyna kurihaaves kamaki eyna anhenun vihan vegen govaigen gos lanka ga hutta luthfy men map eh hifaigen ais meethi rangalhuhey ahaleema e balaafe sifain ge gate nubai thanegga indha rangalhu kolla dhiniyo. so how much does he involve in the nov 3rd attack. u guys judge. anekka dhen kurani ekahala kon moya kameh baa ey hithah arani.
ReplyDeleteJust look the craps that our President has been doing since assuming highest post of the country. Looking at the recent appointments he's made at the President Office we can just imagine how far he's been following to what he was preaching during campaign. He made 6 appointments at State Ministers' level, 9 at Deputy Ministers' level and 10 appointments at Executive Directors's level. The president's office didn't have as many state ministers, deputy ministers and executive directors as today. Is this some kind of JOKE?
ReplyDeleteobviously, bushry you have no clue what you are talking about.....hardly surprising, dhivehi rajje ehaa rangalhakah neynge dho? ekkala iru regionional development project ge dhashun kiyavaigen hithadhoo ah kiyavaidheyn dhiya nama engunees
ReplyDeletebushry there's a very sad thing going on a free media!! i site like minivannews doesn't have any place to comment .. that's the reason y i have to comment here .. i don't think our president knows who's grand son of nasir is!! this so called grand son use to work in police and he was a ruthless subinspector .. who was in the shadow of commissioner of police due to family relationship .. how come now he's talking about the suffering of people, this guy whose going to compete for parliment didn't even bother to talk to any maldivian when he was in police .. when i see adam zahir this so called grand son of nasir was there .. so please let people know who this guy is?
ReplyDeleteMR POODLE, WHY NO COMMENTS ON BUDGET, BARRING PUBLIC FROM THE BUDGET REVIEW, WHO IS THIS HUMAN RIGHTS AMBASSADOR? WHY NO COMMENTS ON THE DEMONSTRATION HELD AGAINST GOVT BILL ON THE LEASE OF RESORTS FOR 50 YEARS...MR POODLE, YOU CANT BE FAIR AND BALANCE BECAUSE YOU ARE MR POODLE
ReplyDeletewhen asked about the amin faisal and shaid case, u are comparing them with ismail shafeeu and ambaree.?? did they try a coup? did they kill innocent maldivians? what a joke brother!!u are just one sided fool.just talking for the people?? what a fake! and talking of changing the names of "katheeb" "atol chief"? what are you talking about? is it the utmost important thing we need right now? dont we have anything more important than this?? are u afried to write on Ameen faisal, Shahid.Go Go, jenifa, sappey??... come to your senses Mr perfact! u have no idea whats important and whats not.
ReplyDeletei think decentralisation with a 3 tire system of local government would just result in wasteful,and costly bureaucracy...so i propose to dissolve the atoll divisions...
ReplyDeleteRegarding the decentralisation of government, one reader commented: "I think decentralisation with a 3 tire system of local government would just result in wasteful,and costly bureaucracy...so i propose to dissolve the atoll divisions..."
ReplyDeleteI think this is a point worth consideration!
Dear Mr. Bush,
ReplyDeleteDuring the former presidency when there was any problem in the jail or in the public or any where in the Maldives the responsibility goes to the president and he was been blamed, that was in your article.
When there was a strike in Reethi Rah Resort, the Home Minister have been blamed, the president has no responsibility.
Mr. Bush, I have seen you in the Mosque quite often, therefore I must respect you but be fair in writing because it has value and weight. Once you have written, it goes for centuries even if you need to write-off you can not do it, may God bless you and your family, Eid Mubarik.
Hassan