Our fisher folk who sit in front of television after the day’s long trips and hard work get bombarded by an alien language these days. “But this is TVM. Isn’t it?†Maldives is amending the national constitution. “Fine, we can grasp that muchâ€. Systems of governance, mechanism of control, experiences of other countries, foreign expertise, difference between theory and practice and best practices; in Dhivehi language, of course, but a range of strange concepts and abstract terms are challenging our minds and vocabulary.
Then we hear about different types of experts. An American expert to draft penal code, Commonwealth experts for drafting constitution, Hill and Knowlton for government public relations, a strategic communication expert for MDP and Australian tourism planning expert to draft the Tourism Master Plan. Yes, experts for every part of nation building.
“..In any society planning, whoever does it, will have to be based on “knowledge†which, in the first instance, is not available with the planner but with somebody else, which somehow will have to be conveyed to the planners and decision makers..(Freidrich Hayek)â€
We, in the Maldives, appear to need a lot of knowledge. We also seem to need a lot of explaining of that knowledge to ourselves – in terms we can understand, in ways it can relate to our problems and in forms of viable and reliable solutions.
Many a times we hear mismatches between what government provides and our actual problems. At other times we see ourselves solving short term problem at the cost of our long term needs, eventually having to deal with frustrations of the public. That is when most of the planning is done with the help of foreign experts.
Could we be expecting too much from foreign experts in too short time periods? Do we provide enough of our own expertise for the foreigner who has to depend on our translation of our own problems? Can quick surveys be quick fixes of chronic problems which we don’t at all scratch the surface?
The fact that we are required to comprehend new concepts and need to be explained by foreign experts is, beyond a challenge, a warning of a new dawn. The plethora of new and abstract ideas demands new thinking. Eventually, we seem to be traveling towards a new way of life; a reformed society in a reformed country.
We learn a lot from every project, in every branch of the government, in every island, at every atoll, all year around. We do a lot surveys and researches, I hear. Can we house knowledge in a central place where every one, when in need, can have access to it? The world publishes thousands of journals on advanced studies in every facet of human life. Could we buy few copies for our nation, in areas we need?
Whose job is to provide most update non-politicized theoretical and empirical knowledge to national branches of decision making’ when in need? Despite which party is in office, what is the department responsible to recognize threats and opportunities to our national interests?
Whose job is to seek, house and produce knowledge for national strategies?
10 responses so far ↓
Hameed // Aug 31, 2007 at 6:55 am
Not a bad idea. Can we run such a thing?
Shihab // Aug 31, 2007 at 12:45 pm
An excellent idea! I don’t think the current regime will buy it, nor act on it!
And I believe that we have to find a reform formula that is free of the old minds and the masters who the people were subservient to. At the moment both these elements have entangled themselves in the reform process to ensure that we will stay enslaved to make them rich and prosperous.
An excellent post!
Mohamed Hilmy // Aug 31, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Some interesting thoughts expressed here. We have Maldivian experts who are quite competent to solve our problems. I have no disdain towards foreign experts, in fact, they are necessary when dealing with world’s lending institutions, as we would have found out by experience.
Singapore has a govt. statutory board, ‘Institue of Southeast Asian Studies’ - a regional research centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.
For the most part in our country, experts and consultants advise our politicians what they want to hear and they get handsomely paid for doing so.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 31, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Yes, Hameed. I believe we can run such an institute or a center. In many countries such institutes are parts of universities or parts of other organizations.
Such centers of learning do not keep a large number of permanent in-house experts but enough to run every area of study as required. Therefore a majority of contributing experts are people who are on the field elsewhere. One of the reasons why we should seek for a system whereby we can bring all the expertise in the Maldives under one roof is the fact that we will not be able to develop our own universities and learning institutes in any near future.
We can, but, create a system where our experienced and educated can contribute to ‘a house of knowledge’ where our indigenous knowledge will prosper.
If such an institution can to become the channel where foreign expertise as well arrive in Maldives, it could be more efficient and benefiting.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 31, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Thank you Shihab, I am still very optimistic of this scenario. I some how believe that Maldives will come out great out of this chaos, organized better than ever.
I feel our old will mould and our young will grow up to implement ideas much greater than this, sooner than later.
ra:zuwa: // Aug 31, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Thank you Hilmy. I also think there are experts in the Maldives provided we create an environment could contribute greatly to our society. Their ideas just need to be challenged and refined into intellectual thoughts in an ‘independent’, unbiased, environment.
I think an independent organization to serve the purpose has become essential. Foreign expertise need to be screened through drainers of Maldivian expertise; for us to be able to internalize it.
ahmed // Aug 31, 2007 at 7:35 pm
That will be a high jump from where we are now. Are Maldivians ready?
hasson // Sep 1, 2007 at 4:51 am
What are ministries for? Every ministry has educated directors and many others who can do such work. Why need another department to waste money?
ra:zuwa: // Sep 2, 2007 at 5:12 am
Thank you Ahmed, A high jump and a long jump but compared to what we want for our nation now, it is a necessary requirement. This is the age of information and knowledge and democracy is about thoughts, ideas and choice. Time to take the jump!
ra:zuwa: // Sep 2, 2007 at 5:19 am
Thank you Hasson. We talk about decision at ministries being made for political benefit. Ministries should actually be doing the actual delivery of policies. The knowledge upon which those policies and decision are made should be independent and unbiased. Most of all intellectual not political; as far as possible.
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