While calls were made for the participation of all national stakeholders, Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally yesterday emphasised the need for a broad consensus around all the issues that will contribute to unity.
She was at the time addressing the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s National Roundtable at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, where she stressed that the progress made in building national unity will determine the pace at which national development programmes are implemented.
Ally called the roundtable the beginning of a crucial conversation to bring to life the country’s motto, ‘One people, one nation, one destiny.’ She said focus would be placed on the root causes of the shared challenges, while her ministry will create opportunities in partnership with all of the individuals and groups at the roundtable. She presented her ministry as an all-encompassing institution that will contribute to the process of transforming society in its totality to ensure a better life for all.
The two-day forum, which opened yesterday under the theme ‘Social Cohesion for lasting peace and unity,’ is expected to produce a five-year strategic plan on how to tackle social cohesion.
While the Convention Centre was packed with representatives from various organisations and a call was made for the widest participation as possible, the parliamentary opposition PPP/C refused to participate as it accused the government of engaging in discriminatory practices.
In her address, Ally said through the roundtable the ministry hopes to understand region-specific and national factors that should be taken into account in the formulation of the social cohesion strategic plan and work programme. She added that the government is aware that it can only create the framework for social cohesion but implementation has to be carried out by the local structures and as a result attempts at building social cohesion and national unity may be unduly delayed by the absence of local government elections.
Ally admitted that with different constituencies formulating a framework would not be easy as an identity has to be built out of multiple identities based on age, gender, sexual orientation, class, language, geographic location and religion. She said the ministry knew that a strategy of such magnitude could not have been developed by government alone and that a national effort was needed, with the views and involvement of as many sectors and stakeholders as possible.
“There is still a lot that propels division and frustrates our efforts towards national unity,” the minister said, while identifying poverty, unemployment, homelessness, landlessness and the race division as some of the contributing issues. However, she said the government’s responsibility is to lead the Guyanese people towards a national democratic society, which is united, non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous and one with a value system that is based on human solidarity, among other things. The government has to create a society where there is quality education and healthcare, decent housing, decent jobs, where all feel safe and secure and where there is an improved quality of life for all, regardless of their race, colour, gender, sexual-orientation or creed, she added.
“The conversations we are about to begin offers us the opportunity as Guyanese to dialogue with each other on the kind of society we seek to build. Through these conversations we can discuss the critical question, what does it mean to be a Guyanese?” the minister stated.
Ally added that there is need for a continuous programme of democratic transformation as well as expansion of basic services and improvement of the performance of the economy to create jobs and a cohesive society where all have access to a good life. She said she believes that the populace would be more responsive to cohesive messages if there is hope of tangible examples of movement towards a better life and economic freedom. This, she added, is recognised by the government, which is working to implement programmes to improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the working class, in order to promote unity and social cohesion.
“Social cohesion is a continuous two-way process, which, if done well and genuinely supported by all stakeholders, will go a long way towards promoting reconciliation, unity and nation building,” she said, while adding that her ministry understands the importance of Guyanese ownership of the changes that will be needed.
‘Non participation unacceptable’
The roundtable is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission.
In remarks at the opening, UNDP Resident Representative Khadija Musa described the event as a step in the right direction as citizens and their organisations are left to chart their own development. She added that it is a good thing that the meeting is being held a few days after the first meeting between President David Granger and new Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
Musa noted that cohesive societies would be better placed to attain human development goals, such as the millennium development goals. She expressed the hope that the roundtable will explore the options available for moving the process forward. She called for the entire country to participate in the process and emphasised that while during elections everyone has the liberty to support and promote the ideas for the type of government they want, after elections they must continue. “[I] would like to say that it doesn’t end after elections. After elections, whoever wins, you have to participate in the policies they are creating and the decisions they are making because I would say that a five-year term is too long to stay quiet. Therefore, you would miss the boat if you sit back and say I don’t support this government and I will not participate because my party didn’t win,” Musa said.
She stressed the importance of the society as a whole challenging the government of the day to ensure its vision is taken into account and incorporated by whichever party wins at elections.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn said that in a multicultural society such as Guyana it is vital that citizens be encouraged to have open and frank discussions about everything, which includes issues of race and ethnicity. He said no one should feel threatened or embarrassed if they talk about such issues.
“It is important to reiterate that promoting social cohesion is not something which is applicable only to government. Everyone has to play their part in working towards such a goal. The government alone cannot be expected to do everything. Civil societies, politicians, all political parties and individuals themselves have a role to play and all must make it their responsibility to contribute. Sitting back and saying this is for someone else to do is simply not acceptable,” Quinn emphasised.
Acknowledging that his own country would have seen its tensions along ethnic and religious lines, Quinn said that change and cohesion take courage on all sides and one side abrogating its responsibility shows contempt for the people they claim to represent. Social cohesion, he added, is important for Guyana to prosper and thrive and it is incumbent on everyone to do what they can to ensure this. The roundtable, he further said, is the first step in the right direction.
