Month: June 2005

15 Minutes with Philip Frayne of the US Embassy in Colombo

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Philip Frayne, Public Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in Colombo. Here are some extracts from the interview, which you can also listen to in full by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.
Philip Frayne stated that the United States is interested in what goes on in a small country such as the Maldives: “we are interested in what happens in the Maldives because we think it is a country with great potential” he said.
Touching on the recent political events, Frayne stated that the United States is “encouraged by the recent political opening that we have seen, the registration of the MDP for example, was an encouraging sign. We are encouraged by recent statements made by President Gayoom.”
Frayne also outlined some of the work the US government has been doing to improve relations and increase understanding between the people of the United States and the Maldives.
A number of exchange programmes have been established he said, and a recently established Fullbright scholarship programme – where scholars in the US come to study the Maldives and Maldivians go to America – was “to continue”.
Also, an international visitor study programme is to start between Maldives and United States, where 6-8 Maldivians will go to the United States to study different aspects of American society and politics – including grass-roots activism, literature, volunteerism, and the media.
America is also working on the cultural front. “In April, we had an American Blues Quartet [play in Male’] and we were very pleased about how that turned out… I think it was the first time a live professional Blues group has performed in the Maldives” he said.
We also recently had a photography exhibit of roadside architecture in the National Library which gave Maldivians a slice of American culture that you don’t normally get.”
“In September, we are planning for the Maldivian-American Friendship Week and in that week we hope to have some more live music but we will also have a trade show with emphasis on bilateral trade and we may have educational seminars… about study opportunities in the US and possibly a cooking demonstration of American cuisine and a military visit by an American ship. The week will emphasis the friendship and deepening ties we are developing between the United States and the Maldives.”
“We also recently got funding for a cultural preservation project in Male’. The oldest mosque in Male’ – the Eid Mosque – is in need of restoration and preservation and we got a grant from the State Department [Foreign Ministry of the US government] to help in that preservation… and that work should get started sometime this year.”
When asked how America pursues the democratizing policies of its President in the Maldives, Frayne said:
“We had made a statement from the State Department last year after the August disturbances in Male’ after which a lot of people were arrested and we came out with a statement saying that we have serious concerns over the people arrested. In our visits to the Maldives we did visit some of those prisoners while they were imprisoned or under house arrest. We kept very close track of that and we made our concerns known to the government in the Maldives. So we try and do it through public statements but also through private diplomacy urging the government to open up.”
“America promotes democracy, freedom of expression and a pluralistic media everywhere [in the world]” he further said, also pointing out a speech delivered by Condelezza Rice in Cairo last week:
“She was fairly critical of the Egyptian government – a long time very close ally of the United States. And yet here she was in the middle of Cairo giving a speech saying that the Egyptian government needs to lead the way in democratization in the Middle East with their upcoming Presidential Elections. So I wouldn’t say this is an exclusive concern in the Maldives or anywhere else but one of the priorities of the Bush administration, if not the leading priority, is to promote democracy throughout the world.”
He further outlined that achieving peace and stability under democratic governments was the objective of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan and said the “preservation of human rights has been a long-term plank of US foreign policy.”
“I’d like your listeners in the Maldives to understand that we are not taking action against Muslims anywhere. Our actions are not directed against Muslims…One of the things we try to protect are Muslim human rights” he said noting that Saddam killed an estimated 300,000 Muslims in Iraq and the US interventions in the Balkans, Somalia and Afghanistan were for the protection of the rights of Muslims. “Our foreign policy is to protect human rights… we are not anti-Muslim.”
Speaking on the perception of the United States in the Maldives and amongst the ‘democratic forces’ he said: “I think the perception of the United States in the Maldives is pretty good…I can’t speak for opposition or democratic forces in the Maldives…but I think [the perception] is generally pretty good.”
“We like to push for pluralisation and democratization in a friendly conversation with the government of the Maldives. We are not anti-government by any stretch of the imagination but we will when we have concerns – as we did last year –bring it up with the government and let them know clearly that that’s how we feel.”

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Philip Frayne, Public Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in Colombo. Here are some extracts from the interview, which you can also listen to in full by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Philip Frayne stated that the United States is interested in what goes on in a small country such as the Maldives: “we are interested in what happens in the Maldives because we think it is a country with great potential” he said.

Touching on the recent political events, Frayne stated that the United States is “encouraged by the recent political opening that we have seen, the registration of the MDP for example, was an encouraging sign. We are encouraged by recent statements made by President Gayoom.”

Frayne also outlined some of the work the US government has been doing to improve relations and increase understanding between the people of the United States and the Maldives.

A number of exchange programmes have been established he said, and a recently established Fullbright scholarship programme – where scholars in the US come to study the Maldives and Maldivians go to America – was “to continue”.

Also, an international visitor study programme is to start between Maldives and United States, where 6-8 Maldivians will go to the United States to study different aspects of American society and politics – including grass-roots activism, literature, volunteerism, and the media.

America is also working on the cultural front. “In April, we had an American Blues Quartet [play in Male’] and we were very pleased about how that turned out… I think it was the first time a live professional Blues group has performed in the Maldives” he said.

We also recently had a photography exhibit of roadside architecture in the National Library which gave Maldivians a slice of American culture that you don’t normally get.”

“In September, we are planning for the Maldivian-American Friendship Week and in that week we hope to have some more live music but we will also have a trade show with emphasis on bilateral trade and we may have educational seminars… about study opportunities in the US and possibly a cooking demonstration of American cuisine and a military visit by an American ship. The week will emphasis the friendship and deepening ties we are developing between the United States and the Maldives.”

“We also recently got funding for a cultural preservation project in Male’. The oldest mosque in Male’ – the Eid Mosque – is in need of restoration and preservation and we got a grant from the State Department [Foreign Ministry of the US government] to help in that preservation… and that work should get started sometime this year.”

When asked how America pursues the democratizing policies of its President in the Maldives, Frayne said:

“We had made a statement from the State Department last year after the August disturbances in Male’ after which a lot of people were arrested and we came out with a statement saying that we have serious concerns over the people arrested. In our visits to the Maldives we did visit some of those prisoners while they were imprisoned or under house arrest. We kept very close track of that and we made our concerns known to the government in the Maldives. So we try and do it through public statements but also through private diplomacy urging the government to open up.”

“America promotes democracy, freedom of expression and a pluralistic media everywhere [in the world]” he further said, also pointing out a speech delivered by Condelezza Rice in Cairo last week:

“She was fairly critical of the Egyptian government – a long time very close ally of the United States. And yet here she was in the middle of Cairo giving a speech saying that the Egyptian government needs to lead the way in democratization in the Middle East with their upcoming Presidential Elections. So I wouldn’t say this is an exclusive concern in the Maldives or anywhere else but one of the priorities of the Bush administration, if not the leading priority, is to promote democracy throughout the world.”

He further outlined that achieving peace and stability under democratic governments was the objective of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan and said the “preservation of human rights has been a long-term plank of US foreign policy.”

“I’d like your listeners in the Maldives to understand that we are not taking action against Muslims anywhere. Our actions are not directed against Muslims…One of the things we try to protect are Muslim human rights” he said noting that Saddam killed an estimated 300,000 Muslims in Iraq and the US interventions in the Balkans, Somalia and Afghanistan were for the protection of the rights of Muslims. “Our foreign policy is to protect human rights… we are not anti-Muslim.”

Speaking on the perception of the United States in the Maldives and amongst the ‘democratic forces’ he said: “I think the perception of the United States in the Maldives is pretty good…I can’t speak for opposition or democratic forces in the Maldives…but I think [the perception] is generally pretty good.”

“We like to push for pluralisation and democratization in a friendly conversation with the government of the Maldives. We are not anti-government by any stretch of the imagination but we will when we have concerns – as we did last year –bring it up with the government and let them know clearly that that’s how we feel.”

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15 Minutes with Leading Businessman Ahamma

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Ahmed Zahir (Ahamma).
Ahmed Zahir is a leading personality in the Maldivian business community and he has represented in the private sector at many international forums. He was a past deputy secretary general of the Maldivian National Chamber of Commerce and Industries and is a director of a leading business in the country.
Q: As a respected and experienced member of the Maldivian business community, what is your response to the introduction of a multiparty political system to the country?
A: I welcome it with all my heart. As Maldivians become more exposed to the rest of the world, their eyes have increasingly been opened to the advantages that greater political freedom has to offer. By this I mean political and economic stability and social justice.
There can be no economic stability without political stability, and I believe that such an outcome can best be achieved under a liberal democratic system based on political pluralism. I welcome the President’s decision to create a system such as this by allowing parties such as the MDP to function as legitimate political entities and take their message to the people.
Q: Are you a member of any political party?
A: Yes, I am a proud member of the MDP.
Q: Why MDP?
A: I have had long association with leading activists of MDP. I worked very close with almost the entire MDP Council in the 1999 campaign to get Anni [Mohamed Nasheed] to the Majlis. Even at that time the key strategist was Latheef and people like councilors Mausoom, Ibra, Naseer, Jenny, Ali Hashim, Ziatte, Saeed, Nazim and Suzan.
I believe that these individuals have carried the same vision of social, political and economic development with them to the MDP. I certainly share their vision of social justice and that is why I’m proud to be in MDP.
Q: The MDP has been criticized in this newspaper for not having policies. Perhaps I should say it has been ‘encouraged’ to develop them. As a leading businessman what type of economic policy do you want from MDP?
A: My conversation with MDP leadership convinces me that they support an open market economic policy. However, they also strongly believe in a comprehensive social welfare programme. You cannot have a just, equitable or even a really stable economy with 42% of the people living in abject poverty.
Low wages and minimal employment opportunities are just the tip of the iceberg. Our people have been saddled with the high cost of basic utilities such as water and electricity. They can barely make ends meet. Most Maldivians cannot even afford basic education and healthcare.
Any economy must have reasonably equitable distribution of the country’s wealth. MDP does not believe in giving people handouts or expropriating existing wealth that has been accumulated. People should be able to keep what they create.
Rather, the party wishes to give people a helping hand by providing them with equal opportunities so that everyone can compete on a level playing field. This is why basic education and health care are so important.
The is why I support the MDP leadership’s aim to provide education upto Grade Twelve throughout the country and for basic healthcare to be provided free at the point of delivery. Policies such as these are important even if businessmen are to make money and create wealth.
Q: What do you suggest the MDP does to create wealth?
A: MDP has many options. Whatever options they choose to take, I suggest a decentralized economy where even the economically disadvantaged have the opportunity to take part.
One thing I constantly worry about is the astronomical rate of unemployment in our country. A recent newspaper in Male’ estimated it to be 50%.
Many school leavers have not been provided with adequate employable skills they need in order to enter the world of work. Let down by the education system, they have been pushed to the margins of society where they find themselves ensnared in a world of crime and drug addiction.
This is a HUGE social and political problem and MDP wants to do something about it. For the sake of the economy – and for the sake of the overall health of the nation – skills development and job creation must be a priority.
Government firstly needs to create a healthy environment for wealth creation. Only then can wealth actually be created. Only then can so many of our youths who have been drained of faith and hope be brought back into mainstream society as respectable and responsible citizens. The MDP’s message is one of hope. Again, this is why I am proud to be a member.
Q: How exactly can MDP create wealth that the present government is unable
to do?
A: I can tell you some, mostly political, steps that any government can take to strengthen the economy. Businessmen and investors need a secure business environment. A more accountable, transparent system of government is needed. An independent judiciary is vital. The rule of law must be upheld.
These are steps necessary to eliminate corruption and waste. A more rational, fair, rules-based and imaginative economic system will give confidence to investors and avoid the flight of capital that we now have.
This is what we need to create more and more evenly spread wealth in our society. I believe we can increase our per capita income to over $5000. A high per capita income can help bring about democracy and a stable political system faster.
Q: What should be MDP’s policy on state-owned enterprises?
A: I think all state owned enterprises, especially traders like STO, must be transferred to private ownership. The job of the government should be to facilitate private enterprise through a good legal environment. I understand that even the World Bank has advised that enterprises like STO should be privatized. In my opinion, state involvement in business leads to too much corruption.
Q: The present government is heavily criticized, especially by the tourism sector, of never listening to the demands of business. Should the government consult the private sector on running the economy?
A: Of course! In most well managed economies the governments consult extensively with the private sector.
National budgets are prepared after very close consultation with the private sector. Since the private sector creates wealth, it makes sense that they have a say in economic decisions.
The private sector and the government must form a close partnership for the sake of national development. Since many of the MDP leaders are members or ex-members of business organizations and have been involved in the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I believe they have the experience and the knowledge to ensure that such a partnership for development can be initiated and sustained.
This is the key to economic success for our nation. This is how greater wealth can be created and enjoyed, not only by us, but by our children and by our children’s children.
Our country has been stuck in neutral gear for far too long. MDP offers a vision of economic and social justice that will allow our nation to accelerate into a future of prosperity and progress. The MDP has the vision and with the support of the people, I am confident that it will deliver us this brighter future.

Minivan News spends 15 Minutes with Ahmed Zahir (Ahamma).

Ahmed Zahir is a leading personality in the Maldivian business community and he has represented in the private sector at many international forums. He was a past deputy secretary general of the Maldivian National Chamber of Commerce and Industries and is a director of a leading business in the country.

Q: As a respected and experienced member of the Maldivian business community, what is your response to the introduction of a multiparty political system to the country?

A: I welcome it with all my heart. As Maldivians become more exposed to the rest of the world, their eyes have increasingly been opened to the advantages that greater political freedom has to offer. By this I mean political and economic stability and social justice.

There can be no economic stability without political stability, and I believe that such an outcome can best be achieved under a liberal democratic system based on political pluralism. I welcome the President’s decision to create a system such as this by allowing parties such as the MDP to function as legitimate political entities and take their message to the people.

Q: Are you a member of any political party?

A: Yes, I am a proud member of the MDP.

Q: Why MDP?

A: I have had long association with leading activists of MDP. I worked very close with almost the entire MDP Council in the 1999 campaign to get Anni [Mohamed Nasheed] to the Majlis. Even at that time the key strategist was Latheef and people like councilors Mausoom, Ibra, Naseer, Jenny, Ali Hashim, Ziatte, Saeed, Nazim and Suzan.

I believe that these individuals have carried the same vision of social, political and economic development with them to the MDP. I certainly share their vision of social justice and that is why I’m proud to be in MDP.

Q: The MDP has been criticized in this newspaper for not having policies. Perhaps I should say it has been ‘encouraged’ to develop them. As a leading businessman what type of economic policy do you want from MDP?

A: My conversation with MDP leadership convinces me that they support an open market economic policy. However, they also strongly believe in a comprehensive social welfare programme. You cannot have a just, equitable or even a really stable economy with 42% of the people living in abject poverty.

Low wages and minimal employment opportunities are just the tip of the iceberg. Our people have been saddled with the high cost of basic utilities such as water and electricity. They can barely make ends meet. Most Maldivians cannot even afford basic education and healthcare.

Any economy must have reasonably equitable distribution of the country’s wealth. MDP does not believe in giving people handouts or expropriating existing wealth that has been accumulated. People should be able to keep what they create.

Rather, the party wishes to give people a helping hand by providing them with equal opportunities so that everyone can compete on a level playing field. This is why basic education and health care are so important.

The is why I support the MDP leadership’s aim to provide education upto Grade Twelve throughout the country and for basic healthcare to be provided free at the point of delivery. Policies such as these are important even if businessmen are to make money and create wealth.

Q: What do you suggest the MDP does to create wealth?

A: MDP has many options. Whatever options they choose to take, I suggest a decentralized economy where even the economically disadvantaged have the opportunity to take part.

One thing I constantly worry about is the astronomical rate of unemployment in our country. A recent newspaper in Male’ estimated it to be 50%.

Many school leavers have not been provided with adequate employable skills they need in order to enter the world of work. Let down by the education system, they have been pushed to the margins of society where they find themselves ensnared in a world of crime and drug addiction.

This is a HUGE social and political problem and MDP wants to do something about it. For the sake of the economy – and for the sake of the overall health of the nation – skills development and job creation must be a priority.

Government firstly needs to create a healthy environment for wealth creation. Only then can wealth actually be created. Only then can so many of our youths who have been drained of faith and hope be brought back into mainstream society as respectable and responsible citizens. The MDP’s message is one of hope. Again, this is why I am proud to be a member.

Q: How exactly can MDP create wealth that the present government is unable

to do?

A: I can tell you some, mostly political, steps that any government can take to strengthen the economy. Businessmen and investors need a secure business environment. A more accountable, transparent system of government is needed. An independent judiciary is vital. The rule of law must be upheld.

These are steps necessary to eliminate corruption and waste. A more rational, fair, rules-based and imaginative economic system will give confidence to investors and avoid the flight of capital that we now have.

This is what we need to create more and more evenly spread wealth in our society. I believe we can increase our per capita income to over $5000. A high per capita income can help bring about democracy and a stable political system faster.

Q: What should be MDP’s policy on state-owned enterprises?

A: I think all state owned enterprises, especially traders like STO, must be transferred to private ownership. The job of the government should be to facilitate private enterprise through a good legal environment. I understand that even the World Bank has advised that enterprises like STO should be privatized. In my opinion, state involvement in business leads to too much corruption.

Q: The present government is heavily criticized, especially by the tourism sector, of never listening to the demands of business. Should the government consult the private sector on running the economy?

A: Of course! In most well managed economies the governments consult extensively with the private sector.

National budgets are prepared after very close consultation with the private sector. Since the private sector creates wealth, it makes sense that they have a say in economic decisions.

The private sector and the government must form a close partnership for the sake of national development. Since many of the MDP leaders are members or ex-members of business organizations and have been involved in the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I believe they have the experience and the knowledge to ensure that such a partnership for development can be initiated and sustained.

This is the key to economic success for our nation. This is how greater wealth can be created and enjoyed, not only by us, but by our children and by our children’s children.

Our country has been stuck in neutral gear for far too long. MDP offers a vision of economic and social justice that will allow our nation to accelerate into a future of prosperity and progress. The MDP has the vision and with the support of the people, I am confident that it will deliver us this brighter future.

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