The Maldives is no stranger to ambition.
We look to Singapore’s gleaming skyline and Dubai’s desert-turned-metropolis and see what’s possible. We’ve even traveled to Estonia, the global poster child for e-governance, and brought back their expertise to digitize our government.
We have brilliant people: our tech-savvy youth are proof of that. Yet, despite our talent and exposure, we remain stuck. Why?
It’s not a lack of brilliance. It’s a lack of the right attitude and mindset.
Development isn’t just about smart people. Brilliant minds exist everywhere, from Male to Mumbai.
What transformed Singapore, Dubai, and Estonia wasn’t raw intellect but discipline, vision, and a collective will to prioritize progress over personal control. Singapore’s leaders embraced meritocracy and long-term planning. Dubai’s rulers bet on bold innovation. Estonia built a digital society by fostering trust and transparency, with systems like X-Road ensuring seamless, secure data exchange.
These nations didn’t just have talent: they had the mindset to harness it.
In the Maldives, our biggest hurdle to digitization isn’t technology or expertise. It’s the attitude of those in power. Digitization threatens the status quo. It’s a numbers game: authentication, verification, and interoperability leave little room for favoritism or control.
A digitized government means processes are transparent, efficient, and accountable.
For those accustomed to wielding influence over people and systems, this is a direct threat to their significance. No wonder progress stalls.
Our public, too, struggles with discipline.
We admire Estonia’s e-governance but hesitate to embrace the accountability it demands. From bureaucrats to citizens, we cling to old habits, resisting the structure that digitization requires.
But this isn’t just a leadership problem: it’s a cultural one.
We must confront the mindset that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term progress. So, how do we break this cycle?
First, we need a cultural shift. Public campaigns can ignite demand for transparency, putting pressure on leaders to adapt or step aside. Second, we must incentivize those in power: show them digitization enhances their legacy, not diminishes it. Third, we should start small with pilot projects, like digitizing a single ministry, to prove the benefits and build momentum. Finally, we need legal frameworks that mandate accountability, making resistance to change politically costly.
Estonia’s digital revolution wasn’t built in a day. It faced skepticism and resistance but succeeded because leaders and citizens alike embraced a shared vision.
The Maldives has the talent and the tools: consultancy from Estonia, a brilliant tech generation, and global inspiration. What we lack is the discipline to act.
Digitization isn’t just about systems; it’s about redefining power for a modern era. Let’s stop waiting for permission and start demanding progress. Our digital dream is within reach: if we change our mindset first.
Smile and Let Smile 