Dear Editor,
A large majority of Guyanese will support a ‘One Guyana’ that provides equal economic and social opportunities for every single citizen to improve themselves, their families and their communities in a peaceful and safe nation.
This means that no one can be left behind in our diverse nation – women, men, youth, children, all ethnic communities, workers, farmers, differently-abled people, and persons who are unemployed, marginalized, dispossessed and hungry.
For any nation, this is a significant challenge. Yes, we can overcome it but to do so will not be easy. Failure could threaten social and economic stability, as is happening presently in many countries.
In contrast to other countries, the government has to be commended for promptly implementing a diversity of programmes to meet the immediate needs of citizens such as the part-time workers programme; training programnes, scholarships and support for small businesses, especially for youth and women; the removal of taxes; cash grants; financial support for farmers; grants to hinterland and riverine communities; flood relief, assistance to differently-abled persons and improved services in the health, education, housing and social service sectors.
However, although these programmes are broadly supported and include Guyanese of all ethnicities, genders, ages and political persuasions, there is a growing concern that many government ministries and agencies are becoming overwhelmed because they presently lack the required thinking, knowledge, capabilities and experiences to ensure that, ‘on the ground’, no individual and no family are left behind.
Consequently, even with good intentions, hard work and determination, many government ministries and agencies will not be able, on their own, to assure every Guyanese equal treatment and equal access.
To meet that goal, there has to be partnerships between ministries and agencies, at the national, regional and local levels, and non-governmental organizations such as trade unions, business organizations, community groups, religious bodies and charities.
But a major problem is that cooperation between government institutions and non-governmental organizations is non-existent or at a low level. To change this problem into an opportunity for transformation, both government institutions and non-governmental organizations have to employ new thinking.
Albert Einstein, the great scientist and humanitarian, advised that, “you cannot solve a problem with the same type of thinking that is creating it” and “the measure of intelligence is the ability to change”.
The great Mahatma Gandhi advised: “be the change you want to see because the world will change when you change the way you think about doing things.” The great Michael Jackson similarly advised that “if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change”.
In this regard, it is very encouraging and inspirational to see that President Irfaan Ali is leading the way. In a recent speech to launch the new Master’s Degree in Strategic Development Studies at the University of Guyana, the President emphasized that there has to be new thinking about the current global, regional, national, and local situations so that the many challenges, threats and problems could be changed into opportunities for successfully transforming the nation’s economy and society.
In other words, both government institutions and non-governmental organizations have to become equally responsible for finding the best approaches and methods to ensure that no person or family is left behind. Only a government/non-governmental partnership can develop open-minded, flexible, balanced and harmonized perspectives that will accurately visualize how to change the big picture and the details in each region and community.
New thinking by a government/non-governmental partnership should involve questions such as: How will we include different points of view and proposals to achieve social justice for every single Guyanese, regardless of their political allegiance, ethnic background, gender, age or economic class? How will we think of and approach things from different angles to see all the connections, patterns and risks? How should we learn about the weaknesses of previous programmes so that we will get it right this time and achieve equal treatment and access? What mechanisms should we use to monitor, evaluate and adjust activities to reach that goal? What things must be done first and how will they be efficiently and effectively implemented?
In the end, the foundation of ‘One Guyana’ has to be respect for and the enforcement of universal human rights (equal justice, equal opportunity and equal dignity) that are enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution and laws – in every region, neighbourhood, community, school, hospital, factory, farm, office, sports facility and organization.
Yours sincerely,
Geoffrey Da Silva
