Today, ministers repeatedly told the public not to exchange USD above the MMA-set rate of MVR 15.42. They reminded everyone that doing otherwise is illegal and urged people to stop anyone engaging in it. But here’s the problem. When you buy something online, BML gives you USD at MVR 15.42 but adds around a 30% commission. In practical terms, you are paying roughly MVR 20 for $1 When BML buys USD, it offer 25% “profit” on top of MVR 15.42. In practical terms, that is around MVR 19 for $1 So the Government apparently believes it can allow BML to effectively buy and sell dollars at rates approaching the parallel-market rate, while lecturing everyone else that they must stick to MVR 15.42 Maldivians are not that stupid. ( or are we? ) If MVR 15.42 is the legal rate, apply the principle equally to everyone, including BML. If not then the Government isn’t really trying to eliminate the USD black market. It just wants its partner, BML, to be the only one allowed to operate at black-market. Rule of law is not about how many rules you make. It is about following those rules even when you are the Government. Perhaps someone should start a petition call on Parliament to investigate MMA & BML and to stop applying one rule to BML and another to everyone else.