Human, social development the bedrock of a healthy, prosperous nation
-Minister Rohee
THE PRINCIPLES of human and social development form the bedrock of a healthy and prosperous nation. It is these principles that form the core values of the Government of Guyana.

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Clement Rohee, who is performing the duties of President, addressing the gathering at the opening of the National Leadership Summit at the National Cultural Centre.

This point was emphasised by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee who is performing the duties of President during his address at the opening of the National Leadership Summit under the theme: ‘Global Positioning: Guyana’s Opportunity through Human Development’ at the National Cultural Centre on Friday evening.

The National Leadership Summit is a collaborative effort of the Men’s Empowerment Network (MEN) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

The engagement between MEN and the Ministry of Human Services seeks to bring focus to the issue of violence in families and the role of men in the mitigation of domestic violence.

As Minister Rohee told the gathering: “As an administration, we continue to place emphasis on the wellbeing of our most valuable resource — our citizens. This commitment is evidenced in the fact that our budgetary allocations for the social sector for 2009 represented some 40 per cent of the national budget, focusing on the provision of social services, so that more of our people can have access to better homes, improved living and health conditions, and a greater level of security and economic opportunities.”

A section of the gathering at the National Leadership Summit.

He said the high level of investment by Central Government in the social sector has been a consistent policy of the administration over the years, which has resulted in the marked improvement in the living standards of our peoples.

Noting that the summit was being held at a time when the Haiti tragedy was still fresh in the minds of people, and the efforts of the government and its people to sustain a collective response remain a top priority, Minister Rohee said:

“Tragedies in any form or magnitude always remind us of our own vulnerabilities, but even in this crisis, we are reminded that nothing is unachievable or impossible, if there is a common commitment to a single purpose. If there is one thing we can be certain about it is that leadership is the province of all, not just a privileged few.”

Noting also that the societal disease of our time is short-term, myopic thinking that does not challenge the mind to think beyond the boundaries and status quo of present realities, Minister Rohee said that for many persons, the temporary and immediate are the parameters of their hope and aspirations, and they allow their lives to be bound by the world within their grasp and sight.

Calling for a paradigm shift in how persons view themselves and opportunities, and how Guyana, as a small developing economy, is positioned in a global context, he said:

“It is not just leadership that is being sought therefore, but visionary leadership. In every crisis, the demand will always be for strong, clear, decisive leadership. Guyana has demonstrated time and time again that we can respond in critical times in a strong confident and decisive manner to any call for help from any of our sister countries within this region. Our People are a resilient, hardworking people who, despite our several challenges, continue to dream and aspire to a greater Guyana.”

He pointed out that as a government, the dreams and visions of its people are the ingredients that fuel its policies, and that it is his belief that the Summit will help to situate the country’s unique circumstances within the global context, in recognizing that its people, its most valuable resource, holds the key to the continued health and prosperity of the country.

And with one in five persons in the world, the equivalent of more than 1 billion people, still living on less than US$1 a day, he said that more than 40 per cent of the world’s population constitutes, in effect, what he terms “a global underclass,” faced as they are daily with the reality or the threat of extreme poverty.

He was quick to point out, however, that it must be borne in mind that the foregoing observation does not by any means suggest that only the absence of economic and financial resources but poverty must also be understood as the dearth of fruitful thoughts, ideas and vision.

“As citizens, we are encouraged to cultivate fruitful, rich thoughts and ideas. These ideas must be nurtured and cultivated in the spirit of nationhood and patriotism. When we dream, we must dream Guyana. When we plan for our future, we must plan with Guyana in mind.”

It is in this context, Minister Rohee noted that the Summit is a welcome initiative since it seeks to address Guyana’s opportunities in the global economy and the role of leadership in the process.

Experience has shown that leadership is an inter-active process in which leaders and followers engage in mutual inter-action in a complex environment to achieve mutual goals. In this regard, leadership occurs at all levels of society and engages all humans, he said.

He said further that the Guyanese society is unique in that it comprises of people of various religious and ethnic persuasions and background.

“The issues with which we grapple must of necessity be understood and addressed in a unified, non-partisan way. The commonality of our humanity must be central to our efforts in addressing the many social challenges we face. Rather than permitting religious differences to weaken our efforts, let us use our unique Guyanese cultural diversity as the springboard to propel us as a nation into a future of never-ending possibilities,” the Minister urged.

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) member, Rev Kwame Gilbert said the Men’s Empowerment Network (MEN) is an organisation that engage and help men function effectively in their various roles and responsibilities within the families and the wider community and is made up of men drawn from various strata of society including religious, political and ethnic background.

He said since its establishment the organisation has been collaborating with the Ministry of Human Services Domestic Violence Unit address to address domestic violence.

Gilbert said the national week of bringing focus to men is historical since it is the first in Guyana.

He extended appreciation to government in assisting in making the programme possible in uniting the role and responsibility of men in their support and involvement of the programme.(GINA)