Towards a new political culture: Purification of the State – an imperative for democratic reconstruction

Dec 28, 2008 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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If we consider the gossips at the rum tables, samples of private conversations, and the range of complaints and comments in the media, two things are certain. There are low levels of confidence in the institutions of governance and the people who manage them. Even personnel within the systems tend to be cynical. And in regional and international circles there are pockets of derision of the State.
Up to a few days ago, a Guyanese who represented Guyana at an international forum recently was narrating that as soon as she entered the forum as a Guyanese to submit her presentation, sections of the audience were sneering. Further, the very fact that the President is criticized for direct involvement in different projects and activities which are responsibilities of other officers of State may not be an indication of his possible tendencies of personalization and insecurity, or deficiencies in administrative/management skills and knowledge, but a reflection of the character of the State. At least, it seems that not even the President trusts the State.
Wherever a State cannot be trusted within nor without its ranks, high rates of violence, vigilantisms and disrespect for authority and individual rights tend to become the predominant modes of conflict resolution, may it be social, political or economic. In the short-run or long-run, the violence by the State, against the State, between personalities or groups, reaches a point where the society becomes tired of the costs so it explodes. The outcomes are unpredictable, much like the convergence of circumstances that would determine the scale and intensity of the explosion.
In the case of Haiti, it remained at a low-level cycle of underdevelopment ever since the revolutionary leaders decimated all the European administrators within the State in response to the French’s counter-revolutionary attempt. Ethiopia is in a similar cycle. The Republic of Congo is quickly heading there.
We see Yugoslavia like the Soviet Union disintegrated into ethnic territories. But we could also example 15th century England, a most corrupt, vicious and bankrupt society, which Henry VII stabilized, disciplined, and set the foundation for the consolidation and development of the United Kingdom, through reshaping the State, especially the judiciary and the treasury. We could see significance too in the USA, which held its states together through processes of transparency and accountability.
The crisis of confidence in the post-colonial Guyanese State is a direct outcome of its culture of subversive politics, which breeds interpersonal, inter-party, and inter-group distrust, insecurity, and hypocrisy. Consequently, industrial relations within the State are characterized by inter-ethnic and inter-party rivalries, uncertainties, habits of pettiness, resistance and negligence, in addition to depreciation in ethics, principles and morals.
The accumulated effect of this on the standard of living and quality of life of the society may not be easily quantified and thus underestimated. But when basic transactions within the State for an individual which should cost only about $1,000 in time and money ends up costing let’s say $20,000, imagine the total cost when several persons are involved. Time wasted could have been alternatively used. Money wasted could have been saved. Imagine the psychic cost and industrial relations environment when a Minister of Government would empower his office assistant to call up very senior personnel to enquire of their location and with whom they are with, as if they should report to him.
Imagine the impact on the private sector. It should be realized that the rate of efficiency of the State directly impacts on the rate of efficiency of the private sector. The private sector, which is expected to be the engine of economic growth, depends on the State to process critical elements of its activities. The pace at which the State conducts its affairs would determine the pace at which the private sector could function. And that has implications for the business person, such as the timely satisfying of demand or supply markets. The performance of the State could also encourage or discourage investment. Several potential investors have aborted their inclination to invest in Guyana because of transaction costs, which include time and corruption. In a real way, those decisions have cost Guyanese employment, income, enhanced Gross National Product (GNP), and the State a broadened tax base.
Further, consider the recurrent cost for infrastructural works. Roads, for example, which have to be rebuilt approximately every six months due to deficiencies in design and quality control. Consider the number of other roads which could have been built.
Purification of the State therefore must be seen as an imperative to (a) improve economic performance, (b) achieve multi-party respect and support for the institutions of governance, (c) attract and keep people of integrity as a means of restoring institutional prestige, reputation, continuity and public trust, (d) manage and preserve a viable multi-racial democracy that is socially, politically and economically equitable, and (e) shape the society into a strong nation state.
Purification means (a) shedding the State of its low-life characteristics, (b) promoting managers/administrators who could withstand professional and public scrutiny, (c) promoting strong personalities and critical thinkers to the helm of the State, to enhance the forecasting, evaluative and negotiating capacity of the State, and (d) unlearning the subversive propensities by promoting the high level aspirations of the nation.
On entering the State system one should be relatively certain that by professional diligence, efficiency and continuous education, he could attain the pinnacle of his profession, rather than mastering the art of hypocrisy and opportunism. At a minimum, the system must be such that irrespective of one’s prejudices he is constrained to function according to best practices. Take for instance, changes in the arena of public transportation. There are documented cases of chauffeurs conducting their businesses according to ethnic/racial bias. However, with increased competition among transportation suppliers across ethnic lines, the focus has become optimization of earnings by any passenger necessary. This kind of outcome does not only reduce inter-ethnic resentment, but enhance economic efficiencies through faster transaction rates, movement of people, and reduced average production cost of services.
Purification must begin with the process of appointments. No longer must appointments to the commissions, etc., be outcomes of backdoor discussions between leaders of the government and opposition. A process of openness must be introduced, where nomination is publicly known and debated and finally approved by at least 2/3 of Parliament. Such a process would not only add legitimacy and credibility to the offices but generate public trust and create an environment for the ambitious to construct their ambitions on the basis of high level values. Actions must be taken to let this happen at the earliest since a State deficient in integrity cannot protect its people. The nation must be mobilized; the outcomes may be revolutionary or reformative. It’s time.

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