THE change being pursued in regard to the measurement in determining development -– that it be shifted from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the Human Development Index (HDI) — represents a progressive stand taken by liberal leaders since in the 1980s.The United Nations Development Programme deems the HDI a summary measure of average achievements in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living.

With the focus moving from assessing development on economic growth alone to including people and their capabilities as important criteria, there is signalled a major shift in measuring development. It further says that any approach to development using the HDI criteria — the preferred measurement in a Green Economy –requires acceptance of man’s holistic well-being; which would see protection and advancement of his cultural, social, economic and political rights in determining the quality of life experienced. Where, in using GDP, primary attention would be paid to issues such as balancing the budget, the HDI would examine indices such as mortality in various demographics; reduction of poverty; improvement in health, life expectancy, literacy, appropriate housing; improving the environment through carbon emissions’ reduction and proper waste management practices; and how factors like these impact on the people’s development.

It therefore means that Government in its development plan for society, will not only have to come up with programmes, but also put policies and laws in place so as to make sure the product withstands the test of scrutiny based on the HDI standard. Consequently, the approach to development — now more than before — requires making Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution a doable component of governance.

A people-centred approach to development necessitates the involvement of those whose lives would be impacted, and takes cognisance of society’s diversity in efforts at meeting unique needs of respective demographics. In this sphere, data gathering — an important component to ensuring scientific approach to planning and measurable outcomes — will not only aid maximum exploitation of resources and reduction of waste; but, more importantly, the involvement of stakeholders whose lives would be impacted by policies, decisions and laws.

In various stages of the nation’s evolution, policymakers have talked about focusing on development through measurable impact on the people’s wellbeing. Even predating the Green Economy, which has three planks — Labour Policies, Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection — various governments have argued and put policies and programmes in place, though of varying degree, focusing on human development in preference to economic growth alone.

Sometime ago, the United Nations was pushing the New Global Human Order, some principles of which are embedded in the HDI; and the society would recall the passion of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, in opposition and as president, pushing for a human face to development. Against this backdrop, decisions made by Government in influencing the National Minimum Wage and Wage/Salary Bill for public sector workers can be understood; as can the Forbes Burnham Administration’s Feed, Clothe and House national programme.

At an international level, when environmental protection became a matter of interest among world leaders, the Desmond Hoyte Administration made the progressive step for a small state society at the 1989 Commonwealth Summit in identifying the Iwokrama Rainforest for member countries “to study the utilisation of the forest on a sustainable basis and the conservation of the species.”

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which aimed to transform Guyana while combating climate change, was pushed under the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration (2009). If properly managed, the LCDS can be a vehicle to bring not only economic opportunities, but training that would bring about awareness and embracement of acceptable norms and standards adumbrated by international organisations.

A factor in our society — where measurement of development from a human component has not been rigidly applied –- is that there exists no organised national programme, or even of an experiential scale, to measure impact and effect; and this has to be addressed, given that the HDI requires good monitoring systems, strong regulatory laws, and enforcing institutions.

This year, with Guyana signing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo Administration pledged to implement Reduced Impact Logging, and has committed to placing two million hectares of forest under conservation.
As this administration makes the Green Economy its pillar for development, it would require bringing together respective stakeholders who are advancing the protection of interest groups; such as the employers, trade unions, environmentalists, human rights activists, and others. And it’s the process of the HDI to have these stakeholders at the decision-making table, where the philosophy, concept and programmes will be discussed, developed and advanced.