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The WJP report
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s placement in the latest WJP Rule of Law Index offered more than just a statistic: it sounded a warning bell. This year the country slid to 80th out of 143 nations, and across Latin America and the Caribbean the position among peer states dropped to 18th out of 32. The margin of decline may appear slight less than one per cent but the trend and underlying dynamics are nothing to dismiss.
The essence of the rule of law is simple yet profound: government and private actors are accountable; laws are clear, equally applied and protect fundamental rights; legal processes are accessible, fair and efficient; justice is delivered by competent, independent adjudicators. The WJP outlines these principles clearly. And yet, in a country undergoing rapid economic transformation and battling governance challenges, we must now ask: is Guyana truly upholding these principles?
The answer, regrettably, is that we are slipping. The WJP report points to discernible weaknesses in key factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Open Government, and Fundamental Rights. These are not abstract or peripheral, they are the foundations of public trust, investor confidence, and social stability. When they erode, the consequences ripple outward.
To be sure, the Government has questioned the validity of the ranking
arguing that the survey data underpinning the Index derives largely from 2018 and 2022, and questioning the credibility of the stat – mark group that gathered it. But the core issues the ranking reflects aren’t new. They mirror recurring themes seen in our streets, institutions and boardrooms.
Independent assessments like the WJP matter because they draw on multiple datasets and expert perceptions, creating a comparative lens by which we can evaluate ourselves against peers and our own obligations. If we dismiss them wholesale simply on technical grounds, we risk ignoring the deeper warning: that our laws, institutions and practices are standing still, even as expectations, scrutiny and change around us accelerate.
Consider the wider consequences: If the rule of law is perceived as weak, businesses hesitate, contracts falter, property rights are uncertain, disputes linger, and governance becomes unpredictable. Development slows. Inequality deepens. In short, a nation’s promise is undermined.
What then must we do? For starters, we must move beyond talking about the rule of law as an abstract virtue, and instead demand concrete accountability. The judiciary must be more than just adjudicator, it must be visibly independent. The police and regulatory agencies must act impartially. The legislature and executive must respect checks and balances, not view them as irritants. And the citizenry must feel confident that their voice matters and their rights are protected.
In this moment of economic boom and national optimism, Guyana cannot afford to let the foundations of governance crumble. Wealth derived from natural resources is not a substitute for trust and lawful systems. In fact, it amplifies the need for both.
The ranking is a red flag, not an indictment of the people or potential of this nation, but a reminder of what happens when good laws meet weak enforcement. We must take it as a spur to renew our commitment to the principles that undergird a free, fair and thriving society.
Let us then treat this slide not as a badge of shame to be ignored, but as a catalyst for action: stronger judicial independence, transparent public institutions, robust oversight, and a culture of accountability at every level. The rule of law demands nothing less and neither does our future.
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As a Guyanese native I am living in another city but the do enjoy reading about Guyana 🇬🇾