ac Competition Article 1: Maldivian’s Dignity on Sale - By Zikma

It seems to me that, these days, all the high ranking officials in the Maldives are begging other countries to assist us to maintain our luxurious or sometimes wasteful lifestyle of living. Everyday we see the news that some bureaucrats going to a foreign country to ask for assistance. In the past we have asked for Official Development Assistance (ODA) for social development programs, but recently we have started begging other countries for cash to provide basic public goods including paying the civil servant’s salary.

I am not convinced that Maldivian Citizens are well informed about the so called “Ehee” that we are receiving from foreign counties. Public may also not be aware of the “strings” attached to the assistance we have been receiving. So my question is, on this rampage of asking for assistance, are we really losing our dignity as Maldivians? Are we going to be pushed around by the other countries, or Are Maldivians “beauty” is been sold without public been informed?

Just to take one example, recently, in the name of attracting investment we see many MOU’s been signed between the Maldives and our donors, including 16 agreements between India and Maldives. I ask myself will there be a connection between the US $ 100.00 million we are expected to receive from the India and these MOU’s.

My argument is Maldivians have always had certain pride in independence and self sufficiency, including speaking on our own terms and stands in international forums. But it appears that if the current trend progress there may not be our own say any longer. So I think it maybe a good time for us to ask our politicians what they are really doing in the name of getting assistance. I have read about “vooraa” business men in Maldives, with this note, I leave the readers to make your own judgments about us getting so called assistance from every corner of the world.