It’s time that the government replace Mohamed Naseer with a more capable Provincial Minister in the Southern Province

When Mr. Mohamed Naseer was appointed as the Minister of State for the newly formed Southern Province, some people suggested that it was I who promoted his appointment because he is my relative. Well. Mr. Naseer is indeed a relative but why would I promote a relative for a political post when I would not promote even my own self?

The fact of the matter is that Mr. Naseer is a bad appointment and the sooner that the government remedies this mistake the better for everyone involved – especially the long suffering people of Addu and Fua Mulah.

Mr. Naseer is an engineer by training and he is gifted in his profession. But he lacks the personality or the charisma to lead the people of the most industrious two atolls in the country. Not only do many people (including MDP members) criticise the government for this misinformed appointment, many are disillusioned and disappointed about a future that awaits them with a slow and uncharismatic Minister who obviously lacks zeal, vision and drive – all three elements which we look for in our Provincial Minister.

Now, one may wonder who would be an ideal replacement if the government were to make a U-turn and replace Mr. Naseer. I do not – even for one minute – suggest that Mr. Naseer should be sidelined and rejected. What the government could do is to appoint Mr. Naseer as the in charge of the Gan International Airport – something that is more akin to Mr. Naseer’s profession.

(While we are on the subject of Gan Airport, let me also suggest that we could rename Gan after some historic leader for the Southern Province - How about “Hussain Rahaa or Afeef Didi International Airport”?).

A relatively young and educated person with drive and dedication such as the current Managing Director of STO (Shahid) or Mohamed Waheed (Wadde) or someone with similar credentials would be an ideal choice to replace Mr. Naseer.

Ask Mohamed Naseer how many times he has visited Fua Mulah since his appointment? Ask him why he spends more time in the capital Male or in Bangkok than in, say, Fua Mulah or even Hulhudhoo or Meedhoo? Ask him why he has to visit Gan in the night so often to have "coffee" with friends?

Ask him why he isn’t doing things such as the following:

1. Invite investors such as Lecute, Sonee Hardware, Sonee Sports, ADK, Reef Side, Sea Gull, Sun Front, Villa, Salsa, etc. to the Southern Province. Hold a two day workshop to brief potential investors to extend branches of their businesses to the Southern Province.

2. Prepare a feasibility study and promote the building of an exclusive diver’s resort at Kandi Hera Island in Addu Atoll.

3. Promote the building of a seaplane base in the lake of Fua Mulah instead of building an airport there.

4. Develop the historic sites in Fua Mulah and Addu so that tourists could visit such places.

5. Develop a seaplane landing area in the lagoon of Gan Island.

6. Promote the construction of a large hotel at Koatte in Hithadhoo, and lease land to potential investors to build guest houses, souvenir shops, dive shops, etc. at the seaside of Maamendhoo in Hithadhoo.

7. Promote the building of a golf course in Gan airport or Villingilli resort.

8. Compile a project to pave the roads and build water and sewage systems in Hithadhoo and Fua Mulah and extend the project to other islands of the Province.

9. Promote local and educational and medical tourism to the Southern Province by building guest houses, hotels, picnic islands, shopping complexes, Cineplex, international hospital, international schools, university, flying school, etc in the Province.

10. Declare Vision 2020 for the Southern Province to achieve all the above and even more, by 2020 so that the Southern Province becomes the number one region in the country in terms of literacy, education, international tourism, local tourism, transshipment, etc.

I doubt that the current Minister of State for the Province has the drive, the courage and dedication and support from the people to work towards such a vision. I know that by stating this so publicly I would incur his wrath and perhaps the wrath of the government. But those readers who have been following my writings over the years would know that I have no personal needs or wishes but rather wishes for my island, my atoll, my province – and most importantly – my country.

The government has nothing to lose in making this adjustment. Let’s forget party politics and appoint a capable leader to lead the long suffering people of Addu and Fua Mulah.