Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik
At the time of the elections back in 2008, I thought Nasheed had made a very good choice in choosing a VP. Both of them were very different in style and background and that seemed to be a good combination. With Nasheed's grassroots connections and hands-on approach and Waheed's UN experience, it looked like a good match for the next 5 years. I knew all along that Waheed also wanted the top job and this for him would be just a transitional phase. I just didn't know that things would start to become messy this quick - perhaps I was just naive.
To think of it, Waheed has not been able to leave any impression at all over the past year or so. He has neither been able to achieve much nor demonstrate his abilities to the public. True, his default excuse for this would be that he did not have the chance, that Nasheed did not give him the opportunity or the role to use his talents.
I feel that at his level, it is childish for him to say that! The position of VP might have been handed to him on a plate but position and role within the government has to be exercised with his personality, drive and charisma. I would think that Waheed would be best suited to have a foreign policy role or a role in education. He has his man at the Ministry of Education so this should not be a problem although we don't see Waheed being the 'visionary' there! In fact, Musthafa seems more prominent than Waheed in that area. Next is foreign policy. Shaheed certainly has a distinct personality (which some people love and others loathe) and Waheed with his lack of a strong personality would not be able to shine against Shaheed.
Just because he is the VP, does not mean that others have to bow to him and give him opportunities to take credit. He has to take his own initiative and do things on his own and make a name and perhaps space for himself within the government. The position might have been handed to him on a silver platter, but credit wont!
To think of it, Waheed has not been able to leave any impression at all over the past year or so. He has neither been able to achieve much nor demonstrate his abilities to the public. True, his default excuse for this would be that he did not have the chance, that Nasheed did not give him the opportunity or the role to use his talents.
I feel that at his level, it is childish for him to say that! The position of VP might have been handed to him on a plate but position and role within the government has to be exercised with his personality, drive and charisma. I would think that Waheed would be best suited to have a foreign policy role or a role in education. He has his man at the Ministry of Education so this should not be a problem although we don't see Waheed being the 'visionary' there! In fact, Musthafa seems more prominent than Waheed in that area. Next is foreign policy. Shaheed certainly has a distinct personality (which some people love and others loathe) and Waheed with his lack of a strong personality would not be able to shine against Shaheed.
Just because he is the VP, does not mean that others have to bow to him and give him opportunities to take credit. He has to take his own initiative and do things on his own and make a name and perhaps space for himself within the government. The position might have been handed to him on a silver platter, but credit wont!