THE MINISTRY of Social Cohesion (MOSC) is in the final stages of development of its strategic plan for the period 2017 to 2021.
Coordinator Ms. Sharon Patterson recently disclosed that countrywide consultations on social cohesion have been completed, a validation workshop on the output of these consultations is to be held next month and the implementation plan for the next five years which spells out the social cohesion agenda and which will receive the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will follow shortly thereafter.

In an invited comment, Ms Patterson said that the Ministry saw social cohesion as a process of nurturing individual and community relationships in building a unified Guyana.
She stressed:” It is not a political philosophy. It is a developmental philosophy. It is a philosophy to foster social development. The vision of social cohesion in Guyana is for a unified Guyana where diversities are embraced where conflicts are resolved and networks and collaboration with stake holders are strengthened and equity is promoted and decision making processes lead to equal opportunities and benefits for all persons.”

“Social cohesion engenders a sense of trust; a sense of belonging a sense of participation and legitimacy and a feeling of belongingness respect and inclusion among citizens.”
Patterson disclosed that the MOSC is currently training community leaders countrywide so that they can understand what their roles are in the whole process of fostering social cohesion.

“The objective is to increase their sensitivity about behaviors that contribute to building better relations We feel that persons have a greater commitment to contribute towards nurturing individual and community relations when they have this deeper level of awareness.”
She added: “We want these people to have an understanding as to what social cohesion is, so that they can disseminate that kind of information in their respective communities.”
On finishing training, trainees are expected to initiate “some little process” that will bring people together when they go back to their community.

Patterson said: “It may be a little environmental project. It might be project where people come to the Ministry and get brochures and flyers and so on and then go out for a social cohesion walk in their community so that the rest of the community have a greater understanding of what social cohesion is.”
The 2017-2021 plan is expected to develop positive outcomes in the areas of ethnic and political relations, social equality, economic equality, community safety and security and political participation and governance in Guyana.

The Implementation of the Strategic Plan which will begin shortly after the validation workshop in March, will detail which partners/stakeholders will be tasked with which aspects of the agenda, she said, since the plan will not be the business of the Ministry alone.
Patterson said that Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) Community Development Councils (CDCs) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), religious and cultural organizations and other stakeholders including the international community will all have a role to play in the unrolling of the plan.