There’s a strong conversation happening in Maldives right now about retired security and judicial officials: MNDF generals, police chiefs, judges; grab high-level state roles, pocketing pensions (50–70% of final salaries) plus salaries (MVR 50,000+/month) and bonuses. Top civil servants in the Maldives Civil Service earn less than that. This “double-dipping” in a nation of 500,000 sparks outrage over cronyism, worsened by a politicized Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and security services.
With a small talent pool, retired officials offer expertise for roles like ministers or ambassadors, but unchecked appointments breed inequity. Opaque processes fuel suspicions of favoritism, eroding trust in governance as elites cycle through power, amassing wealth in a high-cost nation.
This practice undermines institutions. Judges taking political roles threaten judicial independence, while security officials entrench influence. Public faith crumbles when fairness seems reserved for the privileged few, demanding urgent reform to restore accountability.
Globally, India offsets pensions for state roles, though favoritism lingers. Pakistan’s generals-turned-ambassadors stir debate, while the UK and US enforce cooling-off periods. Fiji, like the Maldives, allows dual compensation, harming trust.
We must create an independent oversight committee to enforce 1–2-year cooling-off periods, ensure merit-based selections, and disclose compensation; cap pensions for salaried roles, tying bonuses to performance; mandate public job ads, conflict disclosures, and annual reports; and engage citizens through consultations and groups like Transparency Maldives.
These reforms would balance expertise with fairness. The People’s Majlis and citizens must demand action to end this elite cycle, ensuring a transparent democracy that serves all Maldivians. Urge your representatives to prioritize legislation and support civil society’s push for justice.
Smile and Let Smile 