Establishing a “Maldives Trust Fund” to build a giant “safe Island” for the future!

The main focus of our foreign policies should be to attract investment from abroad and also establish a "Maldives Trust Fund" for the future. A certain percentage of our revenue should be saved in this fund. Foreign donors should be invited to donate to this fund. The purpose of the fund should be to build a huge “Safe Island” - hopefully by reclaiming the whole of the Vaavu Atoll - at a height of at least twenty to thirty feet above sea level.

This landmass will be able to accommodate at least three to four hundred thousand people and have a huge transshipment harbour and almost unlimited land for factories and other industrial projects and work.

At a time when climate change and sea level rise is a major danger looming in our future, as a small island nation we stand in the high risk category of nations that could be wiped out from the face of the earth if we do not act promptly. If this scenario becomes reality, some say that we could become refugees in the back yard of some country such as Australia. But that should not be a scenario that we should entertain. WE can plan and meet destiny in readiness if we act now.
So why not establish this “Maldives Trust Fund” and start saving for a “rainy day” that could very well see us standing in salty rain!

Are We Economic Slaves of Sri Lanka?

Think about this! Sri Lankan investors (either directly or indirectly) control about 11 (eleven) percent of our tourist beds. Sri Lankan airlines has for decades controlled the major earning of the air-travel business in our tourism industry. Most of the accountants in many major Maldivian companies are Sri Lankans. They know the inside-out of our corporate strengths and weaknesses.
Sri Lankans are not only investing in resorts, but also in small travel agencies, restaurants and coffee shops as well. Most of these agencies are run in some Maldivians’ names and the Sri Lankans remain behind the curtain!
Where r all the talented Maldivian workers and investors? Our investors find it difficult to get investment capital due to a shortage of investment banks here in the Maldives. We also have a problem in motivating a relatively lethargic workforce. We also need to motivate the small to medium level investors to invest in restaurants, cafeterias, marts, etc.

Those Maldivians who want to invest in resort-operations and travel agencies also face major problems. For example, many resorts run by Sri Lankan and other foreign companies refuse to give rates for Maldivian travel agencies. Some people describe Maldives as an economic slave of Sri lanka. If we are blind to this we will soon wake up to a day when Sri Lankan investors control most of our tourist beds and hence control our travel agencies and the related industries in the tourism sector. By that time we would have ;lost control of most of our small businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, marts, etc. as well.

President-elect Mohamed Nasheed's close allies and political-friends such as Sikka, Kerafa Naseem, Mausoom, GoGo Latheef, etc. are lovers of Sri Lanka and they may be inclined to maintain the status-quo. Nasheed should be brave enough to address this issue without being influenced by these allies.

We hope that our newly elected president Hon. Mr. Nasheed will be able to digest this message and address this pressing issue and also the many underlying issues here. The government should find ways to facilitate finance to local travel agents, tour operators and investors in all areas of business. A good example of the lethargic attitude that needs to be replaced by vigour is the fact that MATATO (Maldivian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators) is also an unknown and an unheard of thing for many Maldivians.
Appointing Sawad as the Tourism Minister would only increase the influence of few resorts operators such as Jabir, Gasim, Nashid, etc. who will have less incentive to spread the wealth than to increase their coffers.

This isn’t my own idea but I hear many Maldivians complaining that the Sri Lankans are slowly but steadily taking control of our tourism industry through their investment wings such as Aitkin Spense and John Keels. They build close relations with influential figures in the Tourism Ministry and the government and increase the number of resorts and hotels that they run, either directly or indirectly.
The problem in many such Sri Lankan-controlled resorts isn’t the fact that they aren’t Maldivian but it is the fact that those Maldivians who work in such resorts say that they feel like second-class citizens in such resorts. Most of the senior jobs in such resorts are given to Sri Lankans and they treat Maldivian Staff in the Sri Lankan managed resorts unfairly.

With the dawn of a new government and the possibility of “real change” in the air, it is time that we reevaluate our tourism industry and see if we need to revise certain regulations as to foreign investment and foreign ownership of resorts.
We should be careful that Sri Lankans may copy our “unique” tourism concepts, learn the construction and operations of such resorts, and then implement those concepts in other countries. Our unique tourism product needs to be preserved so that we are able to carry it on for many more years without losing control of it.
Investment banks need to be setup in the Maldives so that local investors don’t lose out to foreign investors such as Aitkin Spence when it comes to developing and managing resorts.

We don’t want the smooth-talking Sri Lankan investors to charm us and "pickpocket" our tourism industry with help from few, corrupt, Maldivian officials.
So we call upon the new government to look into this matter seriously before it’s too late!

President-elect Mohamed Nasheed's close allies and political-friends such as Sikka, Kerafa Naseem, Mausoom, GoGo Latheef, etc. are lovers of Sri Lanka and they may be inclined to maintain the status-quo. Nasheed should be brave enough to address this issue without being influenced by these allies.

Don’t forget to elect a star cabinet and not a “Lava Party”.

While we congratulate Nasheed, we have to appreciate that now he has a tougher job than winning the election. In fact, forming and running a government could be much harder and trickier than winning the election itself. Nasheed has to realize that we did not sacrifice our lives and our time and our livelihood to make way for some corrupt hoodlums to become ministers and what not.
I understand that president-elect Nasheed is facing immense pressure from the coalition (Iththihaadh) members to appoint their cronies as Ministers. Gasim is holding on to his share and so are Dr. Hassan and Dr. Waheed and Adhaalth and Ibra.

1. Gasim as Home Minister?!@%*

The cabinet list has not been announced yet, but according to some unconfirmed sources, Gasim Ibrahim will be Home Minister. It is assumed that the Atolls Ministry would be incorporated into the Home Ministry. This would give Gasim immense power over the atolls and the capital island (Male’) and also power over the police force. If this is true, then the appointment of Gasim as Home Minister would create fear among many big businesses who are his direct competitors. This would be a destabilizing appointment. Gasim should realise that he and his business came very close to being annihilated! Now that Allah has saved him, he should stop trying to bundle more power for him and his cronies. Stop the greed Gasim. Stop the greed DR. Waheed. Stop the greed Ibra. Stop the greed Dr.Hassan. If you fail this time, Gayyoom and his cronies will have a good laugh at your expense. And in the process we will risk losing this hard-earned freedom. Have some sense guys!

2. Sawadh as Tourism Minister?!@%*

My sources tell me that Jumhooree Party’s running-mate, Sawad is being proposed as the new Tourism Minister. His higher education was in the field of religion, and only God knows how he can be capable of leading our tourism industry into the 21st century. If this appointment becomes reality, it would be seen as Gasim flexing his muscles to appoint one of his proxies to the important portfolio of tourism. Imagine the amount of destabilization this would cause to the big players in the industry – i.e. Universal, Champa, Sunland, etc. It would indeed be a tragedy if Sawad is appointed as the tourism minister.

3. Dr. Musthafa Luthfee as Education Minister?!@%*

I hear that Mustafa Latheef will be appointed as the Education Minister. I humbly disagree to this appointemnt. I have worked under Mustafa at the Education Ministry some years back. He is a kind and very nice person. Incidentally he is a distant relative of mine as well. More importantly he is qualified in the field of education and holds a PhD. But Dr. Mustafa Luthfee is a very slow and bureaucratic person who is not dynamic enough to lead our Education portfolio. Education will be one of the most important areas in this new government and it would be sad to see it being left to a slow bureaucrat such as Dr. Mustafa.

4. Sarangu Adam Maniku as Trade Minister?!@%*

I also hear that Sarangu Adam Maniku will be appointed as the Trade Minister. I would not comment on his reputation but I would say that he is a person who is not qualified for such a post. While we have many qualified MBA holders and economists in our country why would we want to leave someone such as Sarangu Adam Maniku at the helm of our Trade Ministry? Is iy waht the "wathan" wants? (E ee Wathan Edhey Goi Tha?) It baffles me. It would indeed be a tragic and very destabilizing appointment.

4. (Folhi) Siththi as Gender Minister?!@%*

It would be sad if Nasheed has to distribute cabinet posts like “Aneemaa Mudhaa” (spoils of war). Nasheed has a very difficult balancing act between choosing people in the Alliance (many loaded with greed) whom he has to please vs being seen as a non-corrupt person. I would urge Nasheed to show leadership here. This is the ultimate opportunity for him to show leadership as a people’s person. He does not have to respect the choice of the Iththihaadh if it’s a bad choice. What if Dr. Waheed suddenly has a change of mind and ask Nasheed to appoint (Folhi) Siththi as the Gender Minister. Will Nasheed agree to that?

So I call upon Nasheed to show leadership and avoid becoming the laughing stock of this country. There are many capable and dynamic people to lead this country in the new team – people such as Dr. Shiham, Sheikh Faarooq, Dr. Abdul Sataar Yusuf, Hamza, Ahmed Mujuthaba, Arif Hilmy, and many, many more. So please don’t give Tourism to Sawad and Trade to this Sranagu guy and Education To Dr. Mustafa. It will be a start on the wrong foot. Show leadership and say “No” to Gasim or Dr. Waheed or Dr. Hassan when you have to say “no” – after all it’s you that we elected as president, not some fictional person called “Iththihaadh”!

Nasheed, please be wise and take the risk. This is the time to bring down the axe to clean up MDP and the Iththihaadh. If you are wise you would rely more on MDP then the presidency. A man's got to do what a man's got to do. So don’t forget to elect a star cabinet and not a “Lava Party”.

Some advise to the new government of Nasheed!

1. President: Hon. Mohamed Nasheed

Don’t stay at Theemuge. Muliaage is good enough. Don’t give a residence to Gayyoom (definitely not Muliaage and not even Hilaaleege). Gayyoom should be given a good pension and a generous housing allowance and reasonable security while he resides in the Maldives – but no need to give him a residence.

Shorten the length of the presidential term to four years.

2. Vice President: Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik

Will the Vice President have a separate office – say, “The Office of the Vice President” or will his office space be inside the President’s Office. This latter option seems more practical and feasible.

3. President of the Guardian Council for Islamic Affairs & Dhivehi Culture: Sheikh Majeed
(First Deputy: Sheikh Farooq)
(Second Deputy: Sheikh Hussain Rasheed)

A large Council of Islamic Scholars (without a fixed number) should be formed. Membership of this council should be open to all Maldivians who hold at least a first degree in Islamic studies or related field. Members should also have a clean criminal record. Ten members from this large Council should form the “Guardian Council for Islamic Affairs”. Members of the large Council will elect the ten members of the “Guardian Council for Islamic Affairs”. The President of the Guardian Council will also be elected by a vote of the large Council.

The Council should advise the President and the Vice President and the Cabinet Ministers and the male holders of all political posts to be an example to others by asking their wives to wear the veil.

An Islamic Centre to be setup in each capital island of each atoll. Such a center should have a qualified sheikh as Imam. It would have a capacity for at least one thousand people to congregate for prayer and it would have a conference hall, an Islamic Library, a set of classrooms to teach the Holy Koran and other Islamic teachings, an Audio Visual room, a computer lab and some recreational or sports facilities.

Foreign Minister: Dr. Shaheed
(Deputy: Dr. Farahanaz Faisal)

Many of the current (useless) embassies were opened under Dr. Shaheed’s watch when he was Foreign Minister for Gayyoom. I believe it was Gayyoom’s policies and not Dr. Shaheed’s. The Foreign Minister should make sure that full-fledged embassies are operated only at the most important locations and that the rest of the missions are converted to Trade Offices. Costs should be cut and efficiency should be increased.

The main focus of the foreign policies should be to attract investment from abroad and also establish a "Maldives Trust Fund" for the future. A certain percentage of our revenue should be saved in this fund. Foreign donors should be invited to donate to this fund. The purpose of the fund should be to build a huge “Safe Island” (hopefully by reclaiming the whole of the Vaavu Atoll), at a height of at least twenty to thirty feet above sea level. This landmass will be able to accommodate at least three to four hundred thousand people and have a huge transshipment harbour and almost unlimited land for factories and other industrial projects and work.

Home Minister: Dr. Hassan Saeed
(Deputy: Hon. Shaheed Zaki)
Atolls Ministry should be abolished and their work should be brought under the “Home Ministry”. HA, HD atolls should be combined as one atoll; GA, GD atolls should be combined similarly and AA and AD atolls should be combined as one atoll too. This will allow us to reduce the number of atolls to at most 17.

The national anthem of our country fails to inspire the new generation of Maldivian. I feel that even the anthem “Wathan Edhey Gothah” compiled by our first president (Mohamed Amin) is also a better tune and a better anthem than our national anthem. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a very popular idea, but I feel that we need to think and debate whether we could change our national anthem.

A South African style “Truth and Reconciliation Council” could be formed and headed by an independent Judge. The purpose of this council would not be to punish the criminals of Gayyoom regime but to find those crimes and make a sentence and keep the sentence as a suspended sentence or forgive altogether. But it is important to establish the crimes. But in the case of any corruption, such money should be directly retrieved from their bank accounts or businesses or it should be retrieved as much as possible by liquidating their assets such as land.

Work should be done to ban smoking in public places and stop people (especially expatriate laborers) from spitting on the road.

As per government regulations, the shops in Male close at 11.00pm. The closing time should be changed to 9pm.

All wards in all islands (including Male) need to be abolished. We would then have no need for ward offices which is an unnecessary bureaucracy and wasteful expenditure. Instead of having wards, the people in each island should unite as one people. The unit is not the “ward”, but the “island”. Despite the fact that land in Male is limited, it has five major cemeteries. These five plots of land could be used for much better purpose if we could relocate the cemeteries to Thilafusi or Hulhumale.

Min. of Defense & National Security: Brigadier Moosa Jaleel
(Deputy: Hon. Amin Faisal)
Chief of staff: Farhath Shaheer
(Deputy Colonel Nixam)

Restructure MNDF to orient it more as a civil defense force. Strengthen Coast Guard and include an “Air force” component with light aircraft for patrolling the seas and fishing zones.

Commissioner of Police: Major Latheef
Deputy Commissioner of Police: Mohamed Rizwan

Change the uniform of the “Star Force”! This uniform now brings fear and paranoia to our hearts.

Minister of Presidential Affairs: Hon. Maria
(Deputy Doctor DidI)
Chief Government Spokesman (or Chief Spokesman for the Presidnet): Ibrahim Hussain Zaki

The Chief Government Spokesman should meet the press preferably five days a week or all working days; or at least twice weekly.

Change the title of “Minister” as “Secretary”. This is the case in many developed countries such as the United Sates and the United Kingdom. For example, instead of having a Home Minister we could have a Home Secretary.

Speaker of the People’s Majlis: Hon. Mohamed Shihab
(Deputy: Hon. Hamza)

Amend the constitution to avoid anyone who has served two presidential terms to become president again.

Amend the constitution to stop state funds to all parties who fail to get at least one seat in the parliamentary election. No party who fails to get at least one parliamentary seat should get state funds.

Attorney General: Hon. Muththasim Adhnan
(Deputy: Hon. Dhiyaana)
Min. of Justice: Dr. Jameel
(Deputy: Husnu Sood )

Death penalty to be imposed for drugs traffickers. This isn’t only an Islamic thing. Death penalty is practiced in Singapore too.

Min. of Housing, Construction & Public Infrastructure: Hon Aslam Shakir
(Deputy: Hon. Shahid (Saabey)
Min. of (Planning), Development and mega Projects: Hon. Gasim Ibrahim
(Deputy: Dr. Mohamed Shareef – Sarippey

A certain percentage of the state revenue should be saved in a new fund called the Maldives Trust Fund. Foreign donors should be invited to donate to this fund. The purpose of the fund should be to build a huge “Safe Island” (hopefully b y reclaiming the whole of the Vaavu Atoll), at a height of at least twenty to thirty feet above sea level. This landmass will be able to accommodate at least three to four hundred thousand people and have a huge transshipment harbour and almost unlimited land for factories and other industrial projects and work.

The proposed transshipment harbour at HA Atoll should be realized. Addu Atoll Gan should have a huge hotel, and the runway there should be extended and the possibility of a parallel runway there should be explored. A new layer of Iranian tar should be laid on the Gan runway to enable international flights to land there without the risk of slipping. A seaplane harbour should be built at Gan too. Laamu Atoll should become an industrial zone an factories should be setup there.

Min. of Health: Dr. Abdul Sattar Yousuf
(Deputy: Dr. Aminath Jameel)

International level hospital to be setup here so that Maldivians do not have to go abroad for medical treatment.

We need to rethink our current stand on population control. Is it helping our economic development? In a way we have limitless land, so if we let our population grow freely, that could help our development instead of controlling population growth.

Min. of Environment, Energy, & Water: Dr. Riza
(Deputy: Dr. Mohamed Ali)

Wind energy, wave energy, solar energy, better sewage and water in all capital islands at least.

Study the benefits of taking Stelco and MWSC public.
Once the study is done, take the right action immediately.
Stelco & MWSC could be combined as one single entity under the Utility concept.

Min. of Tourism & Civil Aviation: Hon. Mahmood Razi
(Deputy: Hon. Abdullah Solih)

Stop Sri Lankans controlling our tourism industry through their companies such as the Aitkin Spence and John Keels.

Introduce new concepts of toursim such as educational toursim, medical toursim, sports toursim (cricket, surfing, etc.). Also allow highrise hotels in some resorts instead of making all resorts as low-rise resorts.

Min. of Trade and Industry: Hon. Ahmed Mjuthaba
(Deputy: Hon. Ali Shiyam)
Min. of Finance & Treasury: Hon Arif Hilmy
(Deputy: Dr. Riyaz )
Governor of MMA: Hon. Shafinaz Abdul Sattar

Make us dollar a floating exchange but hold the current rate for at least 6 to 12 months.

Attract foreign investment to mega projects. Diversify the economy. Establish a Maldives Trust Fund. Invest that fund's money in the US or Europe.

Min. of Sports, Arts & Vocational Education: Hon. Shafeeq (DO Sappe)
(Deputy: Hon. Hamidh Abdul Gafoor)

Increase the use of vocational education in the schools and also establish vocational educational schools.

Establish sports academies / schools where the normal curriculum of schooling is taught but it the school will be oriented for only those who wish to excel in a certain sport or art. For example their could be a football academy / school where normal O’level subjects are taught but the school will focus on developing young footballers to feed to the clubs and the national team.

Sports Tourism could be promoted by establishing an international level cricket stadium and hosting international cricket matches. We could take advantage of the popularity of the sport in the region – in countries such as India, Sri lanka.

Min. of Education and Youth: Hon. Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra)
(Deputy:Dr. Amal Ali)

Open the first University of Maldives and invest in promoting educational tourism by attracting foreign lecturers and foreign students to this university.

Establish sports academies / schools where the normal curriculum of schooling is taught but it the school will be oriented for only those who wish to excel in a certain sport or art. For example their could be a football academy / school where normal O’level subjects are taught but the school will focus on developing young footballers to feed to the clubs and the national team.

Inviting ex-president Ibrahim Nasir to the Maldives

Ibrahim Nasir was our second president - a leader who laid the foundations of our two most important industries, i.e. tourism and fisheries. Though he too had dictatorial traits during his presidency, Nasir was treated very unfairly and vilified by Gayyoom. Nasir lives in Singapore and never returned to Maldives during Gayyoom’s 30-year-rule. Now about 80 years old and extremely sick, many Maldivians want their former leader to return to Maldives even for a few days before he passes away.
It is something that Nasir deserves and something that many Maldivians want. It will also be a slap on the face of the outgoing president who tried his best to take credit for the good things that Nasir did to this country.
Hence many MDP supporters and a large chunk of the ordinary people want the president-elect Nasheed to invite Ibrahim Nasir to the Maldives even for a few days and to welcome Nasir as a state dignitary.

Will our future first lady and the MDP Chairperson wear the veil?

Redefining “moderate Islam” is one critical area that needs to be addressed urgently. If MDP alienates the moderate Islamists then there is great danger of the party losing their credibility. Moderate Islam does not mean having the freedom to dress whichever way one wants. We all attacked Gayyoom because he does not make his wife Nasreena to wear the veil. I wonder what many Maldivians would say if MDP chairperson Maria starts to wear the veil. Would that inspire Nasheed’s wife to do the same? I wonder what many Maldivians would say if president-elect Mohamed Nasheed’s wife (Laila) resides at the presidential palace without wearing the veil.
If we turn our backs on Allah, it is easy for Allah to reverse this victory and bring us down and give the leadership to whoever He wishes. This may not be the most popular idea but I call upon president-elect Nasheed and the Vice-President-elect Dr. Waheed and the MDP Chairperson Maria and the leader of the Jumhooree Gulhun Gasim Ibrahim and Adhaalth party leader Sheikh Hussain Rasheed and Sheikh Ilyas to come to some sort of feasible compromise so that the issue of the veil is addressed properly.

DRP and Yamin could make a comeback if MDP fails in meeting their promises!

Well, half of the battle is over by wining this election. On the other hand Maumoon, Yamin, Thasmeen, Kutti Nasheed, Azima, Aneesa, AKamaaluddeen, AHameed, etc. will join their financial muscles and deception and try to take advantage of any hiccups from MDP. As they have said repeatedly, they will try to win the next parliamentary election. Though this is unlikely we should never underestimate them. IF MDP-Iththihaadh fails to realize their promises to the people then it will open a door for DRP to gain access to the minds of the electorate.
The constitution could be amended to say that anyone who has served two presidential terms at anytime in our history could become president again. But this will still not close the door on corrupt elements of Gayyoom from coming to power – people such as Yamin! We cannot close that door through any law but we can close that door if MDP-Iththihaadh rules humbly and se per their promises.
Some of the most critical issues include housing, narcotic drugs, inflation control, reducing wasteful government expenditure, making better use of Theemuge, making better use of Aarah, strengthening Islamic values amongst us, promoting our culture, reducing crime, introducing a performance related corporate culture, promoting good governance in the civil service and the political circles, etc.
Good governance should be the key all successes in the future. That needs to be established urgently.