OBSERVERS whether they are supporters of the current government, or not, will acknowledge that the current administration has a vision.
That vision has been repeatedly expressed by the President and other officials. Vision refers to what could or should be pursued in the future. This fact is in sharp contrast to the lack of a general overarching idea of where our country will go, by the Peoples’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime under which Guyana became a drug-fuelled, autocratic State.

The APNU+AFC coalition on the other hand, having an all-encompassing vision, is important to Guyana because such vision shapes and determines the philosophical foundation and policy direction of the government. Vision ensures that the country is moving in a certain direction, instead of just aimlessly surviving. And vision defines the nature of the programmes which are contemplated, planned, and initiated.

According to experts in management, visionary governance is an aspect of visionary leadership. One expert wrote, “Visionary leadership can only be the product of a visionary leader. And a visionary leader is an individual who sees the potential for how the world should exist and then takes steps to get there.” The expert adds, “These two abilities combined – the ability to see the potential for change, combined with the ability to lead others creates a visionary leader.”

Guyana is fortunately blessed with visionary leadership and governance. Visionary leadership is characterised by three primary features: innovation, feedback, and taking responsibility. Innovation includes the introduction of completely new ideas. The ideas of the creation of capital towns, and the full implementation of an autonomous local government system, are examples.

When the government notices and responds to the needs of the people, that is feedback in action. An example of this is the 5Bs programme which provides boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books to children in hinterland areas. That programme alone has revived the interest of children in getting an education, and provided the means for them to do so.
Taking responsibility includes owning the positive and the negative outcomes of decisions. President Granger has outlined and offered details of numerous innovative ideas. A green Guyana, powered by renewable energy sources is one such idea. More importantly, that idea is being implemented; so far, almost all government buildings, including the President’s home, are powered by solar panels.

Guyana is poised on the cusp of an influx of revenue from the extraction of oil. As such, visionary leadership, management, and governance are essential. Guyanese cannot afford to squander opportunities.
Visionary leadership is essential in Guyana because our foreparents came from four continents; our cultures are diverse. In order to realise the ideal of one people, of one nation with one destiny as stated in our National Motto, such governance is necessary.
Visionary leadership is innovative. The idea of a capital town in every region is a progressive idea, which is being implemented with unparrelled success.

The autonomy of local government bodies, coalition government, the inclusionary democracy, the elimination of poverty, closing the gap between the standard of living on the coast and in the hinterland, affordable housing, and sustainable energy are parts of that vision.

As Guyanese, we all have visions for our own lives; we even have visions for our children; we want them to be teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, carpenters, or writers. We want the next generation to succeed. Vision defines who we are, and it determines who we choose as leaders. Vision decides if we are successful, or not.

A government with vision has a clear idea of where we are and where we want to go. A leadership with vision can express their ideas clearly. And, as we make the best decisions in our homes, we must choose our leaders wisely. We must choose leaders with vision.