Our May 4, 2016 Stabroek News column (SN), focused on institutional trust and citizen engagement in Guyana. It recognised that institutional trust and trust in government are sometimes used interchangeably, highlighted the importance of institutional trust to regime legitimacy, democratic sustainability and the effectiveness of institutions (Ayidin & Cenker, 2011) which structure our political, economic and social interactions (North, 1991). It indicated, based on data from the LAPOP survey, that institutional trust took a nosedive in 2014 and underscored the fact that the 2015 general elections resulted in a change in government. We return to institutional trust against the backdrop of its increasing mentions in discussions of political and economic issues, especially the nascent petroleum industry.
The issue of Guyana as a low trust society (sometimes construed to be a lack of confidence) has been mentioned in discussions at the University of Guyana, on social media and in the press. With respect to the emerging oil industry, some expressed lack of trust in the government’s handling of related matters, whereas others have bemoaned this state of affairs. What is sometimes missing from these discussions is clear recognition of the reasons for the current state of trust and what is required for building institutional trust.