Maldives Ministry of Housing & Infrastructure, Dr.Muizzu says 97% of government budget is spent on atolls

Maldives Ministry of Housing & Infrastructure, Dr.Mohamed Muizzu says 97% of government budget is spent on development of atolls.

Dr. Muizzu, we need facts, figures and real stats and the total accountability of all Maldives government expenditure in a transparent manner...we don't need a tweet or statement without any subsequent backing or proof of such argument.

Does Maldives enforce the Drug Laws? Or is drug use legal in the Maldives now?

79 Tested Positive for Drugs in Anbaraa Case. However, since, a lot of prominent people daughters and sons were arrested, the police has released most of these people despite, they being tested positive for drugs?

Where is the justice in this? Why the double standards? Why for one citizen one thing and for another person another way?

If it was the common man or ordinary citizen, the government, the police and corrupt politicians and corrupt judiciary will hold such people accountable.

But since this happened to senior prominent people's daughters and sons, the Maldives Police has also let go of most of these individuals.

Such a shame, what this country has come to. Where is Adhaalath Party now? Where is the Dheena Gaumatakah govaa meehun? Kobah tho Insaafu? Kobah tho judiciary?

Now they will say the 79 individuals who tested positive for drugs, is now not tested positive for drugs.

Hehe, the irony of such things. I really feel ashamed i am citizen of this country, where law, is enforced for the poor but the rich & influential people are above the law?

Such bull shit and double standards by this government, the police and all government personnel associated with this case. If you cannot punish the people associated with this case, then no one in the Maldives, should be subject to drug enforcement laws.

Source: http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/54756

Raising of the dollar from USD 12.85 to 15.42 ; Bad or Good Decision?

On 10 April 2011, President Nasheed's Government announced a limited float of the currency within a band of 20% from the previous exchange rate of 12.85. Government's main intention was to lower the purchasing power thus reducing demand for dollar. For example, MVR 1 billion of imports will require USD 78 million at the rate of USD 12.85. But if the exchange rate is 15.42 then for MVR 1 billion of imports will require USD 65 million. Simple?

But the argument goes, vice versa, for example: China also, has the dollar under controlled rate, due to which their exports is quite cheap to Europe and the USA.

Source: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/forex/09/chinas-peg-to-the-dollar.asp

However, since the Maldives doesn't play such a significant role in terms of exports to other countries or in such volumes, the Maldives government is not under so much pressure to have a controlled USD rate.

The point i am trying to make is that if the dollar rate was still USD 12.85, it would be cheaper for the majority of Maldivians to purchase the dollar for going abroad, purchasing goods from abroad, services, medical etc.

By raising the dollar from USD 12.85 to USD 15.42, the adverse impacts are:

1) Business men found it expensive to purchase the dollar with their rufiyaa which in terms will raise the prices indirectly.

2) People going abroad for medical and studies found it more expensive to purchase the dollar, which in turn leads to:
a)  Higher rents in Male if they're landlords,
b)  Higher fish prices, if they're fishermen,
c)  Or higher  prices of basic goods and services, if they're businessmen.

The point i am trying to make is, if you make the dollar expensive to purchase, this does have a adverse impact on the economy in the long term by raising the prices of goods and services in the long term.

Even if Nasheed did it, this was not a good economically feasible, decision, as it did not solve any problems, such as the shortage of dollar and it only made foreign imports more expensive for the average person generating income in MRF.

And also reducing the value of MRF. overall for the economy.

Any decision taken by the top government officials, should be done, after extensive studies, has been done for the feasibility of such decisions. By considering expert opinions in such matters.

So that the public or the common man doesn't suffer.

We need to introduce Capital Gains Tax in the Maldives

We need to introduce Capital Gains Tax in the Maldives:

A capital gains tax (CGT) is a tax on capital gains, the profit realized on the sale of a non-inventory asset that was purchased at a cost amount that was lower than the amount realized on the sale.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_gains_tax

It's not the poor but the rich who owns most of such assets which is currently not subject to tax. Just called to MIRA to confirm it.

Maldives is currently, on the path of Regressive tax. Tax the poor and feed the rich.

A regressive tax is a tax imposed in such a manner that the tax rate decreases as the amount subject to taxation increases. "Regressive" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate progresses from high to low, where the average tax rate exceeds the marginal tax rate. In terms of individual income and wealth, a regressive tax imposes a greater burden on the poor than on the rich.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regressive_tax

Where is the Maldives Fair Trading Office? or is Corruption too much?

By: Mohamed Sanih - Rayyithu Meeha

Male to China flying 08 hours Fare - USD 460
Male to India flying 01hr 45 mins Fare - USD 265
Male to Bangladesh flying 05hours - Fare USD 360
Male to Gan 01 hour only but USD 435 (for foreigner: China national taken for comparison purpose)

The sole reason, again is there is no competition for Island Aviation, like Dhiraagu had a monopolistic market some years back. Also, there is no body monitoring it, to make sure, consumer prices are fairly priced.

Case in point: For example the UK Office of Fair Trading makes sure promoting and protecting consumer interests throughout the UK, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive. Including pricing of such products. Source: http://www.oft.gov.uk/

Where does the Maldives Government do that? Government and Business men alike are too corrupted in the Maldives.

For example: During the month of ramadan prices are double or tripled, despite the purchasing & other costs seems relatively same for the business men. Where is government intervention, to make sure products are reasonably priced? Simply selling via STO is not the final solution.

Corruption everywhere....


Prices taken for comparision on 12/05/2014 03.04am:

MALE to GAN return ticket is around
MRF. 2,333 for Maldivian or USD 151 and USD 435 for foreign national from China.

Sources: http://booking.maldivian.aero/CAB/IBE/ResultByPrice.aspx

Open up Guest Houses and City Hotels in islands where people live for the whole of Maldives; including Rajjetherey to Investors

Why not open up guest houses and city hotels in islands where people live for the whole of Maldives; including Rajjetherey to investors. And to people who are interested in investing.

This will directly benefit the island populations, by creating more jobs and sources of income.

Also, creating 05 / 10 or more resorts in each atoll which directly benefits the local island populations, and money doesn't go to central government (or at least 50% of tax collected is given to that respective atoll populations, for building better schools, hospitals, colleges, harbor, ferry services, naru dhama geh nizaam etc.)

Why only build City Hotels & Guest Houses in Male and Hulhumale? Why don't the whole of Maldives benefit from such investments and investors?

This will also, create and distribute wealth. So that islanders also reap the benefits of resorts in their atoll. As central government lacks the speed to build such facilities on time or is too corrupted to do so.

Support or Not to Support Death Penalty in Maldives?

So what is the solution by this page: https://www.facebook.com/whenstatekills?

Is to let the people who kill other people walk free. ..go to jail relax...have a nice vacation and come out in 06 months or one or two years time and kill another person again?

If one person is given capital punishment...then people will realize, that killing another person has a price, which paid by their own life.

With increase of gangs, and wide distribution of drugs...killing now is a daily habit in the Maldives...which i never saw or heard of when i was a kid...

Case in point: One of the largest and most influential democracy in the world, the United States also has capital punishment enforced.

Crimes which goes unpunished over time creates a spiral of new cycle of crimes...

Killing without capital punishment will lead to an increase of crimes and killers over time.

Here is a list of sources, which says capital punishment or death penalty has proved to reduce crime rates:

1) Several studies have demonstrated a link between executions and decreases in murder rates.

http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/the-death-penalty-deters-crime-and-saves-lives

2) Studies Say Death Penalty Deters Crime: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/11/AR2007061100406.html

Each execution deters an average of 18 murders, according to a 2003 nationwide study by professors at Emory University. (Other studies have estimated the deterred murders per execution at three, five and 14).

3) New wave of a dozen or more studies have appeared reporting deterrent effects of capital punishment that go well beyond Ehrlich's findings. The estimates of the deterrent effects are far greater, ranging from three to 32 murders deterred for each execution.

https://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/communications/reports/summer06/capitalpunish

4) Homicides or Murder decrease 35.7% immediately following a publicized execution.

Source: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2778855?uid=3738648&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21104145060503

2nd amendment to Pension Act on 24th April 2014 makes foreign employee participation in Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme is Voluntary

By: Mohamed Sanih - Rayyithu Meeha

If  Pension was mandatory, it will have a direct impact on the number of foreign workers working in this country and thereby in the long term, increase the number of jobs for the Maldivian Youth...

Of course the government and businessmen have a different agenda...despite government calling and promising more jobs for the locals, their actions state otherwise. They think the public is stupid...

Some countries like the UK, USA, Australia even neighboring Srilanka, have strict regulations & laws, which is followed for bringing in foreign workers into their country and which is strictly monitored. For example:
They have different levels & criteria for Skilled and Semi-Skilled workers and limit of foreign full time workers per year, per category etc. Which is done to give more opportunity for the youth of their country.

And what does the Maldivian government do? More and more of the youth of the Maldives, is unemployed, while more foreign workers enter the country each day. Where is the justice in that?

Our government doesn't have a systematic way of monitoring this or is too corrupted to monitor it.

Okay, some stupid ass person might comment on this post and tell that this is not the UK or US and we need foreign nationals or expatriates. I do agree to a certain extent on that point but not totally, as there are lot of Maldivians with degrees, masters who doesn't get a good salary or good job or is unemployed.

Also, for those levels, which locals can do the jobs also, the resorts & other companies, are hiring foreigners. For positions, such as waiters, butlers and room boys, we can see some resorts in the Maldives using foreigners. Thereby depriving the youth of the Maldives from jobs, what is this government doing to solve such problems?

Further, to state my point, if foreign workers, work in Male, he gets food, accomodation and salary but where as the local Maldivian with the same qualification and experience doesn't get the same benefits from the same Employer, now tell me where is the justice in that? As most Maldivians working in Male are not from Male and is from Rajjetherey...

Double standards by companies and government alike.

The youth of the Maldives need to make a stand.