IT HAS COME to be accepted that governance of the people’s business requires that policies and laws be the driving force in guiding the conduct of citizens and managers of the state’s business. Over a number of years, several claims have been made about the way the nation’s resources have been distributed by representatives of the government and state. There have been accusations from sections of the society about organised and sustained marginalisation against them.

On occasions in the past, rather than seeking to investigate and put corrective measures in place, senior officials of government and state sought to defend their actions. Some also repeatedly queried and condemned acts again and again. By such conduct, these persons have indicated to the citizens that public opinions and the citizens’ relevance were immaterial.
Development is a dynamic process, and this is what drives change in society. Change, in this instance, is embracing and executing policies, programmes and laws consistent with modernisation if the society is to develop and remain relevant. Failure to do so will result in underdevelopment and internecine conflicts. Government, officials of state, and the citizenry are not only required to be mindful of this, but also to act accordingly.
For instance, recent exposure in the media accusing a government official of obstructing the Guyana Revenue Authority from executing its legitimate duties in holding Bhai San Lin accountable is generating widespread discussions. This adds to conversations on the forensic audits holding accountable those who violated the public’s trust, etc. These conversations are taking place in the streets, media through news items and opinion pieces, and on the various social media sites.
The public expects any infraction, perceived or real, that has been brought to the attention of the decision-makers, regardless of at which level, to be addressed. Advocates for good governance are calling for the embrace of a principle that speaks to all being equal and being treated equally. This level of citizens’ involvement and unabashed expression of views is becoming increasingly prevalent in our society. In some part, this may be due to a lack of appetite for continued poor governance, given the ills it brought on the nation’s resources and image, and deprivation suffered by its people. In other part it may be persons desiring development that is equitable and derived through the confines of laws. And yet again, it may be a combination of both.

A restive and engaged public desirous of seeing improvement in government and state practices is aided in its aspiration in this era when lessons are learnt in real time from other societies. Where citizens see governments employing best practices in other countries, particularly the use of information communications technology as a potent agent in changing society and holding persons to account, they are seeking to do likewise to achieve similar results for their country. In an environment like this, one’s words and actions will later return to either haunt or liberate through comparative applications.

It is clearly the public’s view that every action by a public official –appointed or elected — whenever being questioned, deserves an explanation.

This is not unique to the aspiration of the Guyanese people, but is a universal principle that is grounded in ethical behaviour. Given that there was very little regard, if any at all, paid to this value within recent years; that it is accepted in other societies, where government and state officials have answered to the public, such re-alignment is being called for here, and the calls are growing in intensity.

As these issues and behaviours are contextualized, it is not unreasonable to say that in deference for the citizenry, government will make sure that these matters are resolved in transparent ways. The expectation is held that the citizens have not given up on Guyana or their leaders, and this is evident in growing calls for them to operate consistent with 21st century best practices in the treatment of the people, their institutions and resources.