Cake shop management cannot work

Oct 18, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – One of the most concerning developments in Guyana since achieving its Independence has been the prevailing style of governance exhibited by its governments. The approach to governance has been unsuitable for fostering development, and is becoming even more so today.

The greatest bugbear has been the tendency to centralise power. This is at odds in today’s world where greater decentralisation of power is needed to address the complex and multifaceted challenges we face. The role of government may have shrunk but the areas of its involvement have become more technical. As such, governments today grapple with a multitude of issues, far more than they did three decades ago, while the size of governments is often shrinking rather than expanding to address these challenges. Part of this reduction can be attributed to the adoption of technology, which enables quicker, more impactful, and higher-volume problem-solving. But part is also ideological with the rise of the neo-liberal state assigning a smaller role for government in economic matters.

Technology is important for a small country like Guyana. Embracing new technologies would allow for greater benefits to be reaped. But there will always be resistance towards the adoption of technology since persons fear the loss of control and power when it comes to the use of technology. One area where technology can help is on relation to road management. It is long been apparent that a major problem has developed and this requires actions on many fronts. This includes substantial traffic revisions in numerous areas to alleviate congestion, expanding infrastructure to accommodate increased traffic, regulating public transport vehicles, enhancing safety measures, addressing insurance issues for vehicle owners, and addressing persistent traffic police problems.

These multifaceted problems underscore the need to delegate decision-making to lower levels of government to facilitate simultaneous action. However, what we observe is a top-down decision-making process, where only one issue is addressed at a time. This is not in line with contemporary governance practices; it resembles an outdated model that hinders Guyana’s progress, keeping it perpetually playing catch-up with the rest of the world.

In the present day, a nation cannot be managed like a small business. The world has evolved significantly, and too much is happening to accommodate such a governance style. It has caused Guyana to stagnate, constantly reacting to crises rather than proactively planning and advancing. Years ago, we had the absurd situation where a President of Guyana was engaging with taxi operators about the color change for hire vehicles? This is not a role for the President. Such minor decisions should be handled by lower-level traffic officers. Once the government establishes the policy, the execution details should be entrusted to accountable lower-level officials who should be held responsible for their implementation or any shortcomings.

On another occasion, the Head of the State held a meeting with snow cone cart operators. This exemplified the degree of micromanagement within the economy, a sure recipe for stymieing progress towards modernization. We are now in 2023 and the over-centralization of decision making persists.

Unless this changes, Guyana will continue to address issues one at a time, requiring micro-management of every small project and impeding overall progress. Despite the obvious progress made in recent times, Guyana will remain behind the rest of the world. Guyana must change, starting at the top, as that’s where the primary issue lies. There is much work to be done, and the resources are available. What’s needed is expedited decision-making to facilitate greater decentralization of decision-making.

Guyana finds itself at a critical juncture in its development, and the imperative for change cannot be overstated. With its vast natural resources, Guyana possesses the potential for tremendous economic growth and societal advancement. The challenge now lies in harnessing these resources effectively, which necessitates the implementation of forward-thinking policies and expeditious decision-making. Guyana has the means, and it’s time for its leadership to step up and lead the nation towards a brighter future.

Realising the full potential of Guyana demands not only the commitment of resources but also the ability to allocate them efficiently and expediently. Decision-makers at all levels of government need to work cohesively and with a sense of urgency. Guyana can set a new trajectory for its future. Guyana cannot advance with an archaic governance approach. Even in today’s world, a small business owner understands the necessity of adopting modern management methods to stay competitive. Therefore, it’s imperative that our political leaders realize that we must adopt different approaches if Guyana aspires to become a modern, developed society, shedding the traditional methods that hinder progress. Cake shop management cannot successfully run a modern corporation in today’s world.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• challenges, country, Development, Guyana, independence

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