We could have been a developed country by now

Sometimes I stand at the ferry terminal watching the sunset paint the water gold, and I wonder about the country we were supposed to become. The one we talk about during coffee breaks, the one that feels just out of reach. We have all the pieces – this beautiful sea, people with dreams, a history of resilience. Yet here we are, still waiting. I read the news about another ceremony, another card handed out, another emphasis on leadership. Meanwhile, my cousin with his engineering degree drives a taxi. My friend’s pharmacy runs out of basic medicine every other week. We joke about the ‘different weird priorities’ because if we don’t laugh, we might cry. The thieves aren’t just the ones in stories; they’re the opportunities stolen from us every day. The ocean has taught us patience. The monsoon comes, the monsoon goes. We rebuild, we adapt. But this feeling is different – it’s the fatigue of running in place while being told we’re moving forward. When someone says ‘let people live their lives,’ I understand. We’re tired of being told what to care about when what we really care about is putting food on the table, educating our children, having a home that doesn’t cost our entire salary. Still, there’s something stubborn in us. Maybe it’s the same stubbornness that built houses on these tiny islands against all odds. We see the potential, even when it’s buried under political noise and empty promises. We know we could have been there by now – a country where talent isn’t wasted, where hard work actually builds something. That knowledge keeps us going, even when the sea gets rough.