Facebooking...

“Thieves robbed homes based on Facebook(FB), Social media sites”, reads the headline of a news report published on WMUR website of the state of New Hampshire – USA on 9 September 2010. This article outlined several cases of robberies where goods worth of about $200,000 were stolen from different houses based on the FB status updates which conveyed the necessary information to break in a house.

Many of us seem to enjoy the weirdness of getting ‘naked’ on the FB wall. Posting and revealing personal stuffs or ‘to-do-list’ on Facebook wall ultimately convey the required information for someone to break in to your house or to plot something of his/her interest against you. Despite these facts many of us pretentiously spread out our daily menus and agendas on the wall of FB.

In our culture it is odd and awkward to express romance or deepest feelings to ‘lovers’, partners, husbands and wives publicly. Though culturally odd, good and creditable changes can still be introduced or practiced against culture. I am just trying to convince myself how exulting it is to display the deepest feelings to the loved ones, especially those between husband and wife on FB status bar which is in a way a public notice board. Wouldn’t it be true or touching if you say ‘love you baby’ or ‘ummmmahh’ or whatever it is through a private message. Shouldn’t there be a fair limitation to some of our words and statements although it’s our right to write on the status bar? Or is it that expressing romance publicly is a degree of love few people could attain? I do know that FB’s admin is active in ‘moderating’ the whole thing the way they want it.

The following conversation which I saw from the FB page ‘Purity Starts here’ hooked my attention and triggered me to ponder upon the weight of a publicly and secretly said ‘I love you’.

Husband to his wife: “ I want you to say: ‘I love you’, In front of the whole world”....wife  approached her beloved husband, and whispered in his ear ‘I love you’….husband, turned to her and said sadly : “Why did not you say it to the whole world?"
Wife replied: "Because you are the whole world to me"

I guess it is better to limit FB’s status updates to the extent and degree that we don’t mess up our safety and relationship with our show off attitude. Every problem is not to be facebooked, but to be faced and tackled by you.

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A bad experience in ADK

ADK HOSPITAL - MALDIVES

Obviously it is very common to have undergone frustration and discomfort in receiving services from the two major hospitals in Male’- ADK and IGMH. For years, I have chosen ADK over IGMH for the reasons that it is located in the proximity of my living area and it ‘seems’ that it provides a less ‘burdening’, smooth and a fast service than IGMH.

But having to wait in the queue for hours counting the monotonous beeps of token display systems and wastage of time due to the limited information available are still prevailing draw backs in ADK.

Anyways, as the heading says, my point is to share a bad day I have experienced in ADK recently.

Last week I went ADK for a medical examination. When my token was displayed, I went to the counter and said the type of medical examination I intend to do and the country to which it will be passed.  “To which Doctor do you want to consult?”, replied the girl. I told her the name – Dr Pandian upon which I was asked to pay MRF750.

I paid the money and went to doctor’s room when it was my turn. Dr Pandian instructed me what I should do – the tests I need to perform for the medical examination. He gave me an appointment for another day before which I had to have everything done.

Afterwards, I hurried to the Radiology room hoping to complete the required tests within one day. Things went smoothly other than taking few more minutes for completing the form by the Radiologist.

I went to the Laboratory for a urine test on the heels of radiography. “You have to pay for the test”, said the Lab tech after seeing my memo and the test sheet. Unbelievably I went back to the counter and talked to the same girl I met first, though I was pretty sure that the initial payment should cover all the expenses. To my surprise, she also took the side of lab tech and told me to go to another counter for the payment. But I insisted. Asking me to wait, she went in to the office, probably to talk a senior staff. She came back within few minutes and said that I have to pay for the urine test and she could check me the price for that. “Ok, check me the price, but I need to talk to a senior”, I replied. She said that the price for the urine test is MRF60 while heading to call for a senior. A lady in brown uniform appeared who told me that the urine test is not included in the medical examination. According to her it was a test prescribed by Dr Pandian since he felt that I should do a urine test apart from my medical examination. Superb! Isn’t it? It didn’t make sense to me. So I asked, “What tests are covered in this medical examination?” She paused for a while and giving me an embarrassing smile and showing me a sign from her palm which possibly meant ‘wait’, disappeared into office. Not much time elapsed before she came back and told me that if I have done a urine test recently I can use the result of that test instead of repeating it which was not a satisfactory answer to my mess. She also came up with a list of medical tests that ‘according to her’ are covered in the medical examination from which she excluded the urine test. Despite the questions harbouring in my mind I surrendered. I went to the counter where they were directing me to pay for the urine test.

Alas, the girl there started a totally different story. According to her I have to pay MRF160 whose breakdowns were MRF100 for the initial consultation which according to her is not charged from me and MRF60 for the urine test. Though low tempered, by then I have started to lose my mind. Trying to muffle my frustrations, I told the girl that I have paid for the medical examination and had the initial consultation. As usual, she disappeared into the office. Through the glass window I could see her talking to a lady in brown uniform which was not the same staff I have talked to. After a while, she whisked towards me pressing her forehead with one hand. She said that I don’t have to pay for the urine test, but initial consultation fee is not charged from me for which I have to pay MRF100”.

I was totally amused and confused for the awareness these pretty ladies have regarding the policies and procedures of their work place. Finally, thinking that it is over, I paid MRF100 and went back to lab.

“You have to pay for the urine test”, said the lab tech looking at me as if I didn’t know what I was up to. Although she was a different lab tech and her statement was pleasant, it ignited sparkles of fire in my mind. “From the counter they said I don’t have to pay for it”, I replied in a bit unpleased tone.

As if she understood the worries running through my mind, she went to the counter with all my documents while I directed her to the staff who serviced me last. I guess it was a lab test sheet named as medical examination which was missing. I am not sure. They solved the problem.

It took hours for me to complete something that could be completed within few minutes. About 6-7 staffs of different levels looked into the matter but no one seemed to thoroughly know what procedures should be followed  to solve the struggle I had went through.

No doubt, ADK needs better staff awareness programs.

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A disturbing service or a business

Riding motor-bikes, having fun in the park, walks and hikes are common outdoor activities we do with our kids to sooth them, though there are not enough outdoor parks in Male’. Like many others, I use to do them too. Obviously the most common outdoor parks or places suitable for kids in Male’ are Artificial beach and the children’s park in Henveyru.

But taking my kid to any of these places sometimes makes her fussy and I have to end up in an unnecessary spending. Because what greet you when you enter or by pass the gate of any of these places would be a big tree or fountain of fancy toys, balloons, balls and whatever is suitable to catch the sight of a kid is will be hanging on that mess. So, as a beginning, something, something that catches the attention of the kid has to be bought from there before the rest of the things.

Kids may fall to things though they have it. A kid may cry for a more colorful ball even if he/she has a ball. They may want something just because other kids have it. On top of all these, kids mostly have a short attention span. What I buy in the park may be useless when I come back. She might have lost interest on it. So, I end up in wastage.

On the other hand, if a kid fails to get what he/she wanted so much, she/he will somehow express her displeasure, anger or frustration. I will be at the edge of messing up the happy evening I thought about. But if I am lucky enough, I may be able to turn away her attention to something else which may stop the sulking and spouting.

Whatever the way it turns out, it is a simple headache to meet this fight every time I go to these places with my kid. Selling ‘fart’ shaped balloons and balls shouldn’t be welcomed at these places. I am sure there would be others who are on the same ship as mine.

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Maldives Land and Survey Authority

How do you define ‘land’ (Goathi)? What is the concept of a land owner? What rights and to what extent do you expect to enjoy these rights within the boundary of your land? Why does continuous rain of 6-8 hours create mini-pools on many major roads of Male’? Why do many Islanders express dissatisfaction on their Harbour depths and break water heights? Why can’t Travelers trust their GPS maps? This list can be continued for pages. Existence of numerous such matters represents the importance of a National Land Survey Authority to implement, regulate and maintain a proper Land law (cadastral system), surveying and mapping mechanism.

Construction of 16 storey hotel at H.Athireege during 2008 generated various problems/issues most of which were damages caused to private properties that were not protected by a legal frame of cadastre. Apart from this, we all know that in Maldives, especially in Male’ conflicts regarding ownership, common boundaries and easements of lands are numerous and it has lead to many of the prevailing social issues of the country.

According to the 2003 World Bank report on ‘Land Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction’, “access to land and the ability to exchange it with others and to use it effectively are of great importance for poverty reduction, economic growth, and private sector investment as well as for empowering the poor and ensuring good governance”.

So, even according to the World Bank, we need sustainable land policies (a cadastral system) or a land administration system for proper determination and recording of ownership, value and the use of land to accelerate economic growth and to eradicate poverty. Although we do have a law named “Maldivian Land Act” (Dhivehirahjeyge Bimaabehey Gaanoonu), I find it legally incomplete to deliver those things mentioned above.

Let’s look at a different scenario showing the same necessity of a proper land law and Cadastral system. A recent headline at Haveeru daily read as follows, “A claim has been raised by MP Rozaina Adam against MP Ahmed Rasheed due to his squawking Cockatoo”, Most of those who commented on this story have taken it as a political propaganda or a ridiculous joke. But for me this is an interesting legal issue related to Land law which we ‘don’t have’ in our legal system. Legally, everyone should be entitled to enjoy his/her property/land without ‘interference’ from neighbours.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 of New South Wales – Australia, “…a council officer has the power to issue a nuisance order to the owner of the animal creating a persistent noise. The order can be issued to either the registered owner of the animal or to the person who normally keeps the animal. The animal can be declared a nuisance if they bark or make another noise that keeps occurring or continues to such a degree that it unreasonably disturbs neighbours. The order remains in force for six months. If the owner does not comply with the order, the owner may face a fine of $550 or more”.

Yes, formation of Maldives Land and Survey Authority would be an addition to the increasing number of various corporations, companies, and offices whose necessities are being questioned by many of us. And I am not a fan of this extravagance policy of the government. But, as it is done in the developed and developing countries, we urgently need a Land and Survey Authority.

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