For Maldives Dictator, it is all a show :: Dhivehi Observer

For Maldives Dictator, it is all a show

Mariyam Mohamed - Tuesday, 14th September 2004

It does not matter to Gayyoom that his people are living in poverty. It does not matter to him that behind his grand multimillion dollar palace scores of people sit around the corner of the local market and beg for food and money. In Maldives there is a culture of begging, some on the street openly but mostly behind the scenes. Seemingly affluent families need to ask people for help when they need a little bit more to do an urgent operation or to educate their children. By nature Maldivians are proud people and it hurts to be reduced to this level of poverty.

What Gayyoom should have done over the past 25 years is to serve the people, that was his job description but he did the opposite. He has ensured that he is living in a palace big enough to be a University complex. He has built his office with millions of dollars, with enough money to build a few schools and a couple of hospitals in the remote islands.


The multimillion dollar Presidential Palace	The destitute begging near the local market which only a few meters from the Presidential Palace

The multi-million dollar yacht Arumaazu - Gayyoom has no sense of reality - his yacht cost us more than a few schools	The Presidential Retreat island of Aarah - where mini palaces are built for each of his children - the harbour is designed to for easy access when people of the country are in desperate need for similar harbours and jetty ; the multi million dollar yacht is seen anchored in the harbour

The mini palace of Yameen in Addu Atoll Gan which he rarely uses on his visits to the Atoll ; similar mini palaces are built around the country for the use of the elite family members and friends	People of the capital island are still living in appalling conditions because despite working full time the money they earn is hardly enough to pay the government utility bills

In Gayyoom's mind, what matters are his overall stature and the quality of his bed covers or the interior decoration of his office, not the welfare of his people! This can be very easily observed when you look at the grandeur Presidential Palace or the multimillion dollar office complex or his luxury yacht. Gayyoom justifies these expenses as necessary to show to the rest of the world "Maldivian sovereign pride". To the average Maldivian that is the most ridiculous thing we have ever heard.

The Maldivian people are hoping for a day justice will be delivered to this tiny island nation of ours. May it be soon... as public patience seems to be wearing thin.