Open Letter to Gayoom

Dear Gayoom,

Today is a very sad day. A sad day for all of us, not just you but for all Maldivians. For 30 years, we had been blinded by you. Back in 1978 we believed that you were the man to take us into the new age. Perhaps at that time you were. But you robbed us. You raped our trust front center and back! I am disgusted with you.

You sir, had the opportunity to rule 'this little nation' peacefully. We were contend with what we had. We were not aware and not educated. You did your best to make sure we remained as such. You are an elitist aristocrat who introduced a 'cast' system. Remember your 1984 presidential address? That was when you proudly addressed fellow "Male'ans" and announced the solution to the problems faced in Male'. You introduced the 'kuda sitee'. You said that will prevent island folk from coming to Male' that easily. You claim to be 'a man for all islands'. What a sick joke!

We blindly voted you in - term after term and you felt that this country was yours. Yours for the taking. You felt that you had done such a great service to us that you deserved all the nations wealth in a silver plate all for yourself, your family and friends. And you say that you have not even touched a 'loa laari'. I beg to differ sir. Today I had a look at the auditor generals report of your palace and I feel betrayed. As I said before, (and let me please stress again), as a Maldivian I feel brutally "raped". Please for the sake of our trust in the system of democracy - I beg you, please explain...

• 6,905 Singapore Dollars for a pair of specs for a Senior Minister?
• 23,756 Singapore Dollars for that Senior Minister and his grandchild to stay at a top Singapore hotel?
• Loro Piana material for suits and trousers for you and your children from Singapore?
• Rose Damask brand nappys flown from London for your grand children?

This is just a few. How can this be state expenses? How did we the people benefit from the Loro Piana suits and the Rose Damask nappys? I am too angry and sad and frustrated to even start writing about the rest! Do you really feel that just because you were president, the country was indebted to you and your family to the extent that WE had to pay you for all this? Shame on you Gayoom. Shame on you!

And dear sir, one more thing. The audit report was quite clear that everything bought for the Palace was bought on Palace expenses. It is very clear what was left behind when you left - nothing! So all that you took as your 'own property' would surely have been bought on our expenses. Surely, someone who made the state pay for nappys for his grand child wouldn't spare his own dime to pay for a TV for the room or a computer for the study! Where is all that? Give it back!

With all due respect, you have all but destroyed our faith in democracy, our trust in human decency and our sense of pride of being a Maldivian. I do not want to see you face, I do not want to hear of you. Please go to your beloved Egypt or wherever else. I don't care, just go!

Yours Sincerely,

Chaviyani