Sunday, October 5, 2008

Questions on the financial plan

A number of questions have been raised by the public regarding Dr. Hassan's Financial Plan. We would try to address some of them, and would like to take this opportunity to invite others to send us their questions so that we can clarify them for you.

1. How come no funds are allotted to the fight against drugs?
Existing funds allotted to the fight against drugs by this Government is enough to tackle the problem. It just needs transparency, increased efficiency, better management of the funds and the will to deal with the problem. A complete re haul of the drug rehabilitation centre will be conducted in order to effectively address the issue of relapse and addiction among the youth.

2. Why would you privatize state media?
State media is a tool of a totalitarian government. What Dr. Hassan is proposing is the creation of free media, which conforms to international standards. The job of the government is to regulate and not management of the content. The media should be independent of state control, neither should it promote the interest of an individual or private party. This is will be ensured through appropriate regulations. It is of outmost importance that the state media will be privatized with no lay-offs, and that none of the employees working in these mediums should fear losing their jobs under this move.

3. As a civil servant would I lose my job and benefits due to your new plan?
It is of outmost importance that no civil servant will be laid-off during the restructuring of the cabinet and its portfolios. Neither will they lose any benefits, such as MNDF and Police health coverage. Instead these will be better managed under a universal health insurance scheme that covers every citizen in the country.

4. Why would you give free computers and other state hand-outs? Aren't there more important things to do with the money?
Dr. Hassan believes an educational revolution is necessary to developing this nation. A computer is a key element in a student and teacher's life. Hence investing in their education is a necessity and not a waste.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why does Dr. Hassan's plan have things that already exist in the country like the Health Insurance scheme which was started earlier this year, and though education is utmost importance, giving a computer is not investing in a child's future... rather education/child plan's which will cover his/her basic and higher education is important. Why cant that money be utilised in such a way that the child can utilize it at a latter stage for further education?????

Anonymous said...

I just wonder hw big is our tourisum sector now? Is it 7 billion dollor industry?

Hw much of it is deposited in Maldivian Banks and for hw long? 6months or 2 years?

How will our economy grow with the next 10 years.Can you give a forcast and what new sectors u will be developing?

Anonymous said...

Regarding combating the drug problem, there is the need for better management and facilities(like full body X-ray scanner and itemizers in every port) of the Maldives Customs of the country for to stop the drug flow into the country.
The youngsters need to adhere the religion, thus psychologically stop the demand for drugs. In friday kutbah and dheenee darus this issue needs to be address more. Find the root of the problem and stop it, "complete re haul of the drug rehabilitation centre" wont be enough.

= An admirer of DrHassan Manifesto

Anonymous said...

Two questions :
1) How does Dr Saeed propose to use the "Presidential island" Aarah, if he is to be elected ?

2) With reference to your 'Financing Plan' (page 1, I : 1 & 2), from which areas are these savings going to be made and what assets will be sold?

Anonymous said...

State media is a tool of a totalitarian government.

State media is not necessarily the same thing as government media. Or do you think the Australian ABC and the British BBC are tools of totalitarian governments? In those two countries it was only these two institutions that expressed doubt about the Iraqi invasion while the private media ate up whatever the governments fed them.

We need to have a publicly funded but fully independent TV and Radio stations. Not having to rely on ad revenues means they do not have to fear the business community. In Maldives it is the business moguls that already have an iron grip on everything. To expose their deeds and government corruption we need a publicly funded independent media station that is not dependent on these two institutions.