Elections are coming and politicians from all parties are beginning to warm up. However, to a somewhat jaundiced electorate, nothing really new has been proposed so far by any one party. But from a purely academic point of view, it will be interesting to discern how the parties’ respective strategies play out in the election season and whether it might just be possible for issues to take precedence over political tribalism.
Meanwhile, murders, violent crime and the carnage on the roads continue unabated and perceptions of public insecurity are not being convincingly dispelled. Civil indiscipline, vandalism, a blatant disregard for law and order and, as we say, ‘runnings,’ appear to be the order of the day. And as if all this were not enough, the garbage collectors have once again withdrawn their services from the city of Georgetown, because of delays in payment for services rendered, leaving residents to cope with drainage and public health threats as best they can.
Same old, same old, mutter the cynics. People get the governance they deserve, paraphrase the fatalists. Not without some justification, say we, for over the years we Guyanese have developed an unenviable reputation for either voting with our feet or trying to find a way around a problem rather than taking a stand and confronting it directly.
But don’t get us wrong; we are not about to advocate any form of civil disobedience or radical action. Rather, we would like to try to understand what it is we want as a people, perhaps with a view to informing the public discourse in next few months.
To put it simply, all most of us really want is to live in peace, happiness and security, to be allowed to pursue our dreams and ambitions, to improve our skills and better our lot, to educate our children, to earn enough money to put healthy meals on the table and afford treats for our kids and ourselves, to be able to work with dignity and enjoy the fruits of our labour, and to relax and play and enjoy sport, culture and other leisure activities.
Of course, this is all easier said than done. Life is not that straightforward, least of all in a developing country such as ours with its historical circumstances and particular characteristics. And this government is confronted, as any government would be, by the challenges, among others, of maintaining law and order, reducing crime and ensuring citizen security in the broadest sense; reducing poverty and creating wealth; providing health care as a basic necessity critical for social and economic development, given that there is an inextricable link between a healthy population and productivity; educating the people and equipping them with the skills to develop the country, and at the same time facilitating job creation and opportunities for personal development.
Obviously, what the country needs is a healthy, educated, well-nourished and secure work force, contributing to raising levels of productivity. Human resource development is the key to global competitiveness and economic growth and we need to find ways to foster creativity, innovation and competitiveness. The small and micro-enterprise sector, for example, has the potential to be a major source of job creation and productivity. We also need to work towards transforming the economy, by adding value to the traditional sectors of production at the same time as we explore avenues for economic diversification. To make it all sustainable, we need a framework promoting a virtuous circle of increased investment, economic growth and enhanced human and social development.
Again, easier said than done, but what we really need now is a clear signal from the political forces in the country, regardless of party, that they are all committed to inviting all stakeholders to participate in the crafting of a new national development strategy.
Some people may say that we have been there before, but surely it is time for a new vision, a new plan, to which we can all subscribe and which puts people, all the people, firmly at the centre of the development process. That’s not asking for too much, is it?