PRESIDENT David Granger has repeatedly emphasised that the overarching goal of the APNU+AFC administration is the provision of a ‘good life’ for all Guyanese, regardless of where they live.

The Coalition, since being elected to office, formulated plans, announced policy initiatives, and enacted concrete programmes with the clear objective of realising that goal. The articulation of an overarching goal by the Head of State assures citizens of two primary facts: That the current Coalition Government possesses the knowledge that it has a specific reason for existing; and, that the reason is to provide Guyanese with a good life. This in itself is to be commended, particularly because it may be the first time in Guyana’s history that a governing administration has definitively stated an ultimate objective.

Moreover, President Granger has stated exactly what ‘a good life’ means. The president defines ‘a good life’ as one with which a person is satisfied. He elaborated that, “the ‘quality of life’ is a measure of citizens’ satisfaction with their lives.” President Granger explained that, “people’s values and life-experiences determine their level of satisfaction. This includes their health, independence, participation in community and civic activities, personal development, physical and material wellbeing, recreation, relationships with other people, and social support.” Evidently, in the mind of the Head of State, ‘a good life’ is not just a combination of nice words, but instead, it has a clearly-defined meaning.

It is recognised that the president’s stated objective is in line with the universally accepted purpose of any responsible government. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School have concluded that governments have five primary responsibilities.

(1) Defense: The first of the five purposes of government is to defend the borders of the nation against foreign invasion. Hence, governments have some form of defence system that may include an army, a coast guard, and an air force. Maintaining internal order is also one of the critical defence purposes of a government. This is taken care of by a police force.

(2) National Identity: Each nation is unique in its own way. Each nation has its own traditions and culture. It is said that for a nation to exist, it must have an identity. For instance, no two flags of any two nations are alike, nor are the national anthems and pledges the same. Hence, one of the most important functions of a government is to protect and uphold the identity of its nation.

(3) Representation: A government represents the interests of the nation. To protect and safeguard the interests of the nation, the government enters into trade agreements, negotiations, treaties and so on, with the governments of other nations.

(4) Infrastructure: One of the main purposes of the government is to provide good infrastructure to all its countrymen, in the form of roads, bridges, water, electricity and communication networks. (5) Social Welfare: Introducing and maintaining social welfare programmes to protect and fulfil the interests of the citizens, especially minorities, such as to provide education and healthcare facilities to the less-privileged classes of people is one of the primary purposes of the government.
His Excellency has identified seven aspects of governance that are of particular relevance to the Guyanese society, and as such, are being immediately addressed.

The first aspect, public trust, the president said, is essential for citizens to feel encouraged to participate in the social and economic activities of their various communities. Such trust, he said, fosters optimism, and people will view unsatisfactory conditions as temporary problems which can be overcome. Government must be seen to work in the public interest. The country must follow through on its commitment to pursue a ‘green’, sustainable path of development. Government must ensure the provision of public infrastructure to improve the pace of economic development. The security of Guyanese must be assured. Public services must be made available to all. Finally, all actions of elected officials must be aimed towards ‘the public good’. In other words, every item on government’s agenda must contribute to improving the living conditions of the people.

Guyanese should, by now, have recognised that the APNU+AFC coalition is one with a different approach to national development. In the past, governments have come and gone without having any stated vision for the country. Guyanese, therefore, could only guess at where those governments intended to take the nation. On the other hand, the Coalition Administration has set a goal, made it public, and listed and continues to enact specific steps towards the realisation of that objective. As such, it is now possible for persons to assess for themselves how successful their elected representatives are in the quest for that stated objective. Given those facts, Guyanese should honestly question their circumstances: Is my community cleaner, are there better roads, is there improved communications, is healthcare better, Is my life more satisfying? And, based on the answer to those questions, decide if they want to support the administration that has a vision and a goal, or, if they want to go backwards into uncertainty.