DURING the election campaign, the now governing coalition promised to do several things during its first 100 days in office.These included raising the salaries of public sector workers; a phased reduction of VAT; reducing the toll at the Berbice River Bridge and increasing the Old Age pension. Prime Minister (PM) Nagamootoo told parliament that the government has kept its promises to the electorate. According to the PM, “The implementation of the 100-day plan reveals the quality of our no-nonsense leadership style to get things done and our preparedness, from day one, to keep these promises.” He went on to observe that, “The 100-day promises merely tested the character of this Government to deliver.”
We generally agree with the Prime Minister. A close look at the menu of promises would show that the Government has accomplished or started more than 75% of the items. This is a more than satisfactory accomplishment. The first 100 days in office for any Government are always a testing period. On the one hand, the Government has to get used to governing. It is not easy to pivot from opposing to governing in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, the Government has to be mindful that it made promises to its supporters and to the country, and that there would be expectations. Its supporters would want it to deliver on those promises while its detractors would want it to fail.
What is important is that the Government has kept its promises to the least among us–the poor and the downtrodden. It has raised the salaries of the working poor. It has raised old-age pensions. While we are still some way away from a living wage for the working people, these increases represent real relief for thousands of families. The Government should be commended for moving so aggressively on this front.
Having said the above, we must take issue with those who have made a big deal of the fact that more of the 100-day plan was not accomplished. Manifestos are meant to give the electorate a sense of the policy direction of the party or parties. It is virtually impossible to accurately predict what could be achieved in any given number of days. You don’t always know, for example, what is the state of the country’s finances or you could not foresee natural disasters such as floods.
It’s early days yet. The real test is whether the Government could maintain this momentum over a longer period. Good governance cannot be really tested by what a Government does in 100 days. It has to perform consistently over a longer period. But, if this Government exploits its full capacity and if it adheres to democratic principles of consultation, accountability and equality, it can change the country for the better. It has made an encouraging start.