LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE

Sep 13, 2008 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Just before the recent summit of Caribbean leaders, held to discuss the Economic Partnership Agreement, I heard our President make a beautiful statement to the foreign press. Our President said that regional leaders need to listen more to what their people are saying.

How beautiful! I hope that our President heeds his own advice and also begins to listen more to what his people are saying. It would do him and his government a great deal of good.

We all know, one of the real dangers to which our leaders are exposed is when they surround themselves with “yes” men.

These sycophants are either too intimidated or enveloped in their own ambitions to offer disinterested opinions to their leader.

They often are afraid that they might say something to offend the leader and therefore they opt for safer ground by simply telling the leader what he wishes to hear.

This has a negative effect because the leader then feels vindicated; he or she feels that whatever he or she is doing is the right thing.

A great many leaders are fooled in this way. They are flattered and told all manner of things as to how people appreciate what they are doing.

Especially when these leaders come under criticism there are the “yes” men who would come forward and criticize those attacking the leader.

This show of support makes the leader feel good. In reality, it however does that leader little good, because it insulates the leader from constructive criticism.

In my lifetime, I have always held nothing but contempt for these soup drinkers would often feign loyalty to their superiors when in fact their only loyalty is to themselves.

On the other hand, I have always respected those that offer constructive criticism since these persons provide an alternative perspective, one that any leader should value, regardless of whether he accepts it or not.

I think our President is matured enough by now to know the lackeys from those who have the courage and conviction to speak the truth, regardless of how different it may be from his own.

I think he knows those who suck up to him for attention, fame and the benefits such association derive and those who are genuine and sincere.

If, however, our President cannot make this distinction by now, if he believes what the soup drinkers and opportunists have to offer, then the problem that Guyana faces is much bigger than the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Burnham was someone in love with himself but he also saw through the superficiality of many of those who tried to ingratiate themselves into his circle of influence.

Burnham knew how to use such individuals to further his cause but you would never have found him taking them too seriously. He would play them like puppets on a string.

However, even Burnham lost touch after a while with reality, believing that what he thought was good for Guyana, was loved by all the people.

It is a problem that many leaders face: how to effectively listen to the people and what they have to say, especially in times of crisis and desperation.

Various mechanisms have been tried but these are always wanting. Some leaders go out and reach the people so as to get a feel of their views.

However, the people use these opportunities to address their concerns and problems and the leader then comes away with the impression that he or she has done a great public service by trying to respond to the needs of the people.

There are also areas in which the leader may go in which he may receive an outpouring of affection.
The leader then believes that all is well and good, when in fact, he is surrounded by persons who are so overwhelmed by the honour of him visiting, that they believe they have to tell him what he wants to hear.

This is one of the reasons why it is important for there to be developed within society permanent structures, institutions and processes through which leaders can effectively gauge the feelings of the people on a number of issues. Otherwise the government is going to feel that it is always in the right.

No government should so delude themselves because it is impossible for governments to always make the right choices. There are always failings in government.

A good government is not one which always does the right thing. There is no perfect government. A good government is one that is willing to effectively listen to the people. A good government is one that is willing to admit to failures and shortcomings.

The greatest strength of any leader is not to have to say or to be told repeatedly that they did the right thing. The greatest strength is to admit on occasion that perhaps more or better could have been done.

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