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Fundamental changes required

Jul 08, 2015 Editorial

There are several principles in the definition of good governance but for Guyana, two are of particular interest to the people and the media; the latter considered as the Fourth Estate.
We refer to the principles of accountability and transparency which are directly related to the media functioning in the historic role as the watchdog of Government and the guardian of democracy.
Public scrutiny will more than likely ensure the coalition government’s adherence to both principles, and that they fall well within the standard expected in a modern, free and democratic society. On the other hand, the blind spots created by the former administration saw such standards decline and the populace had come to expect virtually anything. There was no transparency or accountability of how taxpayers’ money was being spent. The nation’s business was being conducted in secrecy.
Indeed, were it not for the private media, and the persistence of the Auditor General – whose annual reports paint a scandalous picture of wide-scale wastage of scarce public resources – the citizens probably would not have had a clue as to how their hard-earned dollars were being squandered. By and large, the former regime did not practice good governance and as a result there was the necessity in such circumstances of an illegally sanctioned framework of secrecy.
As the newly-elected Government reaches the halfway point of its 100-day honeymoon period, it is perhaps the perfect opportunity for the people to check on several promises made to them during the general election campaign.
One of the major promises related to the introduction and passage of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation in Parliament, which would enhance the nation’s financial security and further boost democracy. Of similar importance, there was a promise to open up the operations of Government to greater scrutiny, not only by the media, but also by the average citizen.
The passing of the AML legislation in the first couple of weeks after being elected to office represents a major positive in the continued quest for good governance. It is obviously a step in the right direction. When the AML was introduced in the National Assembly by the former administration prior to the 2015 election, it was not supported, because the impression conveyed by the combined opposition was that it was too weak. The doomsday scenario used as a counter argument – that by not enacting the legislation, Guyana would be blacklisted, did not materialize. We appear to be on the right track.
Secrecy and a frustrating lack of accountability have retarded the country’s development, especially after the 2011 election. It was thought that with a minority PPP government, there would have been more accessibility, transparency, and meaningful engagement with the opposition, but that was certainly not the case.  If the then government was really serious about delivering on its commitment to good governance and had engaged the opposition, it would have been a demonstration of good faith and a significant step in the right direction.
A government that provides access to information on paper but hardly in practice will eventually endure the wrath of the people. Unfairness and arrogance tarnished the image of the former government. The public demand for more government accountability against the backdrop of rampant corruption and controversial decisions related to the awarding of contracts and the reckless waste of state resources were the administration’s death knell
Unlike its predecessor, the present administration’s pledge of good governance arrangements will not go unnoticed. There will have to be fundamental changes as the country approaches its 50th Independence anniversary – a confirmation of sorts, of the nation’s mature status within the global community, especially within the Caribbean and the Commonwealth.

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