Irrespective of historical experiences that would have brought the diverse racial groups to Guyana, the fact that we reside here means that here is our home and we have to work together to make it comfortable. This responsibility is a collective one that requires input from every group and across the spectrum. Whatever we have inherited from our forebears we have the responsibility to build on it as we pursue constructing of a nation that is uniquely Guyanese. Minister of State Joseph Harmon last week at his post–Cabinet press conference declared that the APNU+AFC coalition government is opened to ideas from the Opposition PPP/C as to how government can work and improve its performance. While there is the belief that this idea is fresh it offers opportunity to the Opposition to table in the National Assembly and other forum suggestions to improve the country for the national good. Positive response(s) from the opposition to the Government’s call can be seen as encouraging and a discharge of the opposition’s responsibility. Every Member of the National Assembly is paid by the citizens/taxpayers to work in the interest of building a nation by putting programmes and systems in place for the development of citizens and country.
The idea of continuous condemnation and wishing failure on the Executive has no place in 21st century politics. The Members of the National Assembly were given their mandate by the people and while Minister Harmon spoke on behalf of the Executive the society can facilitate and ensure the process of bringing about an inclusionary politics. There is no monopoly by any individual or group as it relates to knowledge. Consequently it would advance the national good as the Government invites the opposition it also includes other groups to share ideas in pursuant of the nation’s principal political objective of inclusionary democracy as constitutionally required.
There are indications that the tenor of our politics is gradually changing for the better and we, the people, must keep encouraging our leaders to stay the course. The Auditor General (AG) in his 2015 Report to the National Assembly highlighted concerns about the management of funds by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The response from the OPM was detailed and respectful of the concerns raised, accompanied by commitment to using the report in improving performance henceforth. This response is a departure from the atmosphere of intolerance exhibited over several years on reports that highlighted any level of intransigence by public officials, elected and appointed.
As crime continues particularly in instance where persons are robbed of their cash and losing their lives which is heightening the level of fear in the society, public criticisms and calls have been of the Minister of Public Security to find solutions to stem the crime wave. Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s idea of encouraging citizens to rely more on the use of credit and debit cards in transacting business is a remedial proposal and deserving of support.
A greater reliance on cards will require an enhancement in our financial sector where businesses, irrespective of size, work closely with the banking system. The business community has suffered tremendously through robbery and the minister’s recommendation should galvanise the business community to make a shift in money transactions.
Last week the International Financial Action Task Force removed Guyana from the “High risk and Non-cooperative jurisdiction.” The significant progress made by Guyana in improving its laws (regime) in combating the financing of terrorism and money-laundering has earned us a place among compliant and low-risk countries. While the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendments have been passed into law it now requires will and commitment to administer same. Failure to do so can cause the country to attract condemnation and return to monitoring status. Keeping Guyana in good staid is reliant on the vigilance of the citizens and holding those tasked the responsibility to manage the AML/CFT laws accountable. The month of October is few days from being over. The society will look forward with much anticipation to having the members of the Public Procurement Commission and Local Government Commission appointed. This was a commitment given by President David Granger earlier in the month.
Examination of these issues indicates that there are efforts to improve the governance system with the support of institutions and involvement of the political opposition. The opposition is urged to seize the opportunity to establish more meaningful relationship with the government. We have a nation to build and all hands on deck will make the efforts rewarding.