Beggars (islanders) cannot be choosers!

Aren’t you surprised at people who are surprised by the very predictable results of elections in the Maldives?

Think of an island. In practice, do they have permission to carry out any activity mentioned in decentralization law to maintain or develop their island? The central government in Male’, is one and only way through which provision of even basic services necessary for humans to survive in an island, is allowed. Islands can’t even dump their garbage, provide water, electricity, even housing plots, without the direct approval of central government.

The island councils elected by the people, have been reduced to the role of a messenger to beg and plead, to central government, on behalf of people, thanks to the Local Government Authority given the task of empowering them! In Maldives everything works backwards or just the opposite of what is written because Maldives is where even good theories on governance or anything else, comes to die!

Reports note that governance is even more centralized after the new constitution and decentralization law was passed. As in Maldivian history, rural Islands are forced to have a master slave relationship with government instead of the latter becoming a development partner who assists and empower them. In such an autocratic disempowered state, do the islanders in Maldives have any other choice other than electing representatives of government?

Only when island communities are allowed to carry out developmental activities as mandated by Decentralization Act, they will start thinking about who can best assist them, on merit, rather than electing government backed candidates by default. International or locals, taking Maldives local elections as a sign of support for any ruling party of the day, needs to do a reality check!

Comments

Divide and rule!

We are an unfortunate lot. I mean we are already divided geographically to insignificant proportions making it unsustainable, unfeasible and not viable to do and sustain anything valuable. (On top of that some bigger islands want to stay divided administratively to get two or more councils!!). In this state the perks available to any ruler is ignorance of his subjects, them being busy with their quarrels, arguments, and differences to notice the sorry state they are in. This makes The Maldives a heaven to get power, to stay in power and sustain that power without doing much, for centuries to come! Let me get to the point. According to last census, 75 islands have a population of less than 500, 58 islands have a pop. between 500-1000, and only 65 islands have more than 1000 pop. If I have my way, an inhabited island should have at least 1000 pop (which is not much). If it does not fit the criteria, the people should be offered the option to move to bigger islands. Any i

Can we, women of this country, have some space to grow food and offer food security to our family?

Illustration by Aishath Rishtha Translation: “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money” The article was published in Maldives Economic Review in its March 2020 Issue 3. To read the full article click link at end 2014: Think about it? In 2014, I started writing a book using census and all available economic data on every atoll including data on how many uninhabited islands each atoll has. I thought that showing demographic, geographic and economic data will make people realize we need to do something about abandoning such rich resources for a congested living in Male’…. I shared the first draft with friends and mother thinking everyone will be very pleased. They weren’t happy. Major problem seemed to be - “just throwing data on people is not enough… we need to talk about some solutions. Take food security for one…..” Outline of the article 2014: Think about it? 2016: Write a

Towards a more equitable budget

The article was published in Maldives Economic Review in its December 2019 Issue 2. To read the full article click link at end World Bank in an introductory economic report on Maldives in 1979 states that “Male dominates the political, economic, and social structure of the country. It is here that a small national elite presides over the archipelago's affairs and takes decisions that are crucial to the well-being of the atolls. Not surprisingly, a disproportionate share of government expenditures directly benefits Male and ensures its residents a standard of living that is substantially higher than in the atolls The other islands now rely upon it as their main trading post and contact point with the rest of the world” Fifty years later Male’ has become one of the most congested cities in the world with a population density of 65,201 per km according to National Bureau of Statistics of Maldives. Top reasons for migration as per census is; as a return migrant, educati

Voice of Maldives Islands

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