Nasheed says “Maldives is open for business”Currently president Nasheed, along with a collection of invited business men, is on an official visit to UK, where he has already met the Queen, the Prime Minister, Premier Relationship Manager of HSBC, and is constantly in touch with UK media to promote the slogan what he calls “Maldives is open for business”. Talking to BBC Mr. Nasheed said: "We need to privatize Radio and TV Maldives and distribution networks. I have come here to see whether investors in the UK are interested."
Mr. Nasheed is making frequent overseas trips with large delegations to rally financial support for his campaign promises. Initially Mr. Nasheed started with “commercial diplomacy” as the forefront of his foreign policy, which was direct contrast to the previous government, who had Climate Change and Human rights as the forefront of international agendas. However, more recently, Mr. Nasheed has returned to old policies by declaring that "Maldives as a carbon neutral country and also re-engage in human rights issues. In UK, Mr Nasheed said he was looking for environmentally friendly investors.
Understanding Diplomatic Language
There is no doubt that Mr. Nasheed is being very well received by the respective by foreign diplomats. But, questions are asked about the tangible outcomes of the president’s official visits, especially given the high costs involved. It is estimated that more $ 100, 000 will be spend on each of these high stakes visits of the president. By refereeing the diplomatic language, government officials inform that Maldives is to gain huge benefits from these visits. For example, in the investment showcase seminar in UK, The Duke of York said that he would support the Maldives’ efforts to become a beacon of light for environment protection, by providing information on environment friendly investment options available in the Maldives.
But, analysts say that tone of diplomatic language has very little impact in attracting the required private investment to Maldives. According to the analyst; official trips of Mr. Nasheed is likely to reduce the inflow of investment because the pressing issues at home that is essential to create a positive environment for the investors still remains unresolved due to inadequate time available to the president to concentrate on domestic agenda.
President is not fit for an Ambassador to attract investment
In recent News conference, as a personal attack to Dr. Hassan Saeed’s assessment of Maldivian economy, Mr. Nasheed highlighted that people who do not understand economic policies should not talk on the issue. According to an economist in BML, this assessment may sound true, but the real problem today is Mr. Nasheed’s involvement as an ambassador to attract investments to the Maldives. He warned that Mr. Nasheed’s terrible performance at the “Maldives Partnership Forum” indicated that talking to investors is not among the strengths of the President
What is required to attract the investments?
According to a policy analyst, what is really required to attract investment to Maldives is a comprehensive tax policy that is investor friendly, transparent cooperate regulations, and political stability in the country. He said none of this can be achieved by Mr. Nasheed’s frequent visits to abroad or roaming around all over the world. Futher the analyst said that the sad truth in all this is the slow and in adequate response from opposition parties to make government responsible on pressing issues like this.
The following comment is taking from Mohamed Nasheed's blog and the author is called Maldivian(10th April 2009 6:40am):
ReplyDeleteHis Excellency President Nasheed simply does not have the ability to govern Maldives. He lacks experience, maturity, and civility to run a 100% Muslim democracy. We were all too consumed by the thought of taking down the 30-year regime, and failed to look at the situation objectively and wisely. The result is that we have placed a man, and a team, that cannot govern our beloved country. Look around us and you see everything deteriorating, moving backwards, and media is no exception.
His Excellency President Nasheed claims to be a journalist. His work in journalism has demonstrated to us what type of journalist he is - the type that attempts to destroy the reputation of others with fabrications. A biased, undemocratic journalist, who attempts to hide behind rhetoric of good governance and transparency. Do you notice this? If His Excellency President Nasheed says that he is transparent, then he will be doing something behind the curtain. If he says he has the files with him and he is telling the truth, then he has nothing and he is telling a lie. That is the way of our Excellency the President. That is the type of political activism he knows, and is used to.
His Excellency President Nasheed cannot accept a free and fair TVM or VOM. He needs to control it to survive, he thinks. He would try to continue in this job, longer than ten years by changing the Constitution. Our beloved President is obsessed with power. He cannot take criticism, especially if it comes from State Media that he now believes is his own.
Ironic it is that an experienced journalist such as Mohamed Haleel has joined in with the President to corrupt the media. We had higher hopes from the founder of DhiTV. We never thought Mohamed Haleel can be persuaded so easily by power, or money, or whatever it is. Sad and hopeless when such people can be bought in by the establishment. Moahmed Haleel, please do not work against media freedom. You have a responsibility and a moral obligation not to be part of such a dirty process that is destroying our media. Please find a better job, you can. Your image, your character, your name, and how Maldivians relate to you have changed, and is changing. Listen to the voice of your soul and save it.
Thoiyyib of course has very little choice. Although Thoiyyib by nature is a good professional, he is part of His Excellency President’s family clan now. And that means Thoiyyib cannot behave any other way even if he wants to. In other words, we have no hope that Thoiyyib can salvage his soul, heart and professionalism because he is too much into the family business of taking and keeping power at any cost.
The staff of TVM and VOM are demoralized. They seek the support of a hand that can give them some relief. Where would such a hand come? At least we know such a hand would not emerge before the parliament election. However, they know that if MDP is crushed in the parliament election, it looks that way, and then the parliament may try to bring some sense to state media and save its staff from the agony of having to do unprofessional things against their heart and mind. Can you imagine? Those who a trained in TVM and VOM, those experienced, are forced into unprofessional and unethical journalism. How can they work? That is why many of them are depressed, demotivated, and stressed. Just walk in to TVM and VOM you will see how we are, I mean staff of TVM and VOM, are in a state of professional chaos.
Our Excellency President Nasheed is not even a year old in this position. We are just beginning to see the dawn of the “other Maldives”. Can you imagine how the real “other Maldives” would be. I think some of us will have no choice but to jump into the sea for escape. Suicide rates will go up. Drug problem will not ease, as the His Excellency has acknowledged himself. State assets, wealth, enterprises, and public utilities will be in the hands of British friends, or their proxies from India. MDP will have sufficient funds coming from these business partners. Modern from of colonialism will settle in to the Maldives. At last, after a century, the British will succeed in doing what they did to many African nations - thanks to how we used our freedom to vote. Christianity will not spread, a church may not not be erected, but Maldivians of Christian faith will be able to proudly demonstrate their lack of respect for Islam.
We can change all of this, still. Its not too late but this is our last chance. If we give His Excellency President Nasheed an MDP parliament, then Maldives as we know it is finished forever. Think twice before you vote. Think about the nation. Think about our collective future. Think about your children and grandchildren. Think about our forefathers and mothers who have fought for this country. Don’t let that happen. Balance the parliament. Let the independents in. And let the opposition have a majority say so it can keep the Government in check. Gayyoom, with all his failings, is a wise man. He said that the “other Maldives” would be as such. Make your decision for the country. This is the chance. Last chance!
As beyya said miothee vaane ethi vefa...dhen jeheynee hama thiben mihen fas aharu dhandhen...mee dheravaan vee varu kameh? kon dhuvahaku baa dhivehinna visneynee....abadhu tuna kathee kan neygey dho? mahuge visnun mi hunnanee
ReplyDeletehama jeheynee felifeli thieben thi aaalaathun. hehehe
ReplyDeleteachadaaaaaaaaaaara dhen...dhen meena ulhey gotheh dhoa...kon felumetha thikiyanee? hitha araa hama boilafaanamey...kudavaa ingilitha boilaan beynun vanee...
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