Dear Editor,
ON 2017.03.30, the mayors and deputy mayors of the nine municipalities were sworn in at State House by President Granger. In his address to the gathering immediately after this event, the President concisely presented the role of local government organs and that it is an integral part of the “tripartite system of Government.”
His Excellency stated that all three levels of Government must collaborate, “in order to ensure that citizens, wherever they are, enjoy a high quality of life.”
He elaborated on the Government’s intention that every region will have “at its heart”, a capital town which will be “a centre of public services, public health, public education, communications, justice, social protection, security and sport.”
In your issue of 2017.03.31, you reported on the above activity, but relegated it to page eight.
Your front page is dominated by the headline: “More Oil” and was followed by a full-page story on page three.
I wish to suggest that your emphasis and message are totally misplaced. The subliminal message seems to be that oil will be our saviour, solve our woes, take us to the promised land and such like. Perhaps I am exaggerating.
Oil or the revenues to be derived from it will by itself, achieve nothing of the sort.
In fact, the lesson is there to be learnt from many other countries that abundant natural resources can even be a curse, in the absence of good governance and strong national institutions.
I suggest, therefore, that your public duty would have been better served by switching the aforementioned articles. The President has already cautioned that we should not become intoxicated by the prospects of oil. Already, we can see the flies hovering over the honey pot.
Our priorities should continue to be trying to achieve national unity, social cohesion, good governance and creating stronger and more effective national institutions. Together, these will assist in the task of delivery of good health care, education, social services, justice, public infrastructure and the like.
In this regard, effective local democracy and a functioning local government system is one of the best vehicles to take us there.
Regards,
Ronald Bulkan
Minister of Communities

Editor’s Note

Thank you for your letter Minister Bulkan. Both the new oil find and the swearing-in of municipal leaders were good stories, but we exercised editorial judgement in highlighting the former as the first lead. The latter was a secondary lead also appearing on our front page. We may not be right every time, but we do so in the interest of capturing the best news story without diminishing the importance of any other.

We have published Minister Bulkan’s letter in full, because we remain open to constructive opinions, which can only help us to carry out our mission.