A peculiar trend has emerged in recent years – Maldivian MPs investing huge sums to purchase resort islands within months of being elected to office. Where are these parliamentarians getting the funds for such massive investments?
One must wonder if these purchases point to deeply entrenched corruption. Or are we to believe a string of lottery-like luck has struck our honorable members?
Take the latest example of MP Rasheed Just months into his first term, he somehow scrounged together over $700,000 to acquire the lease of Rihiveli Island Resort. His previous role was a small time builder like thousands of others from Fuvahmulah.
Yet we are supposed to accept that he managed such wealth entirely through legitimate means in such a short span. Did he take the best business courses at Harvard on the side too to become a resort tycoon overnight?
Or look at the husband of MP Rozaina who bought also bought rights to a resort island. He was a an average joe before entering politics. Did he save that multimillion dollar purchase money from his wife’s salary?
One expects ordinary citizens to suspend disbelief at such fairy tales of instant success. But where is the transparency? Shouldn’t the Anti-Corruption Commission investigate how public servants turned private jetsetters so swiftly?
When politicians allocate national resources like land or contracts, fairness and ethics must prevail. Buying influence through favors and finance should have no place in our young democracy.
Citizens invest trust in leaders to serve the public good, not fatten personal coffers. Elected office is meant for selfless service, not self-service.
So I ask again – where exactly are Maldivian MPs getting the money to splurge on resorts? Until that question is answered beyond doubt, the rotten scent of corruption lingers.
Maldives Resort Workers 