It is the duty of every government to govern in the name of the people, who are its electors, to deliver what it would have promised. And though it is known that administrations vary from government to government for a variety of reasons, it is the duty of every government to make available the best services and assistance available to its citizens. It is a legitimate expectation of the people.

But not only must the latter be done, it must also be available to citizens, whose ready access to government services must be unimpeded, and not be hampered by unnecessary bottlenecks or bureaucracy. There must also be ready mechanisms to engage critical issues, which must not be left unattended, lest it causes further bother, and increase in cost, time and money to the affected party.

The current approach of “Bringing government to the people’’ again underlines the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government’s determination of ensuring that the citizens of Guyana are served in the most satisfying of manner, without any of the stated constraints.

It explains, why, for example, the government has insisted that the system of Local Government, so long centralised in its fossilised and decrepit state, must change through citizens’ participation, determining what are best for their communities. This will include the very important aspect of the decentralisation of public services in the ten administrative Regions, which citizens in their local communities can access, as is the case with many such facilities.

It was this kind of decadence of governance that failed so many of our citizens, which would have caused so much frustration and pain, consuming much time and money, as citizens sought relief, redress, or solutions for whatever challenge that had been unresolved. Sometimes for years, as have been the example of many citizens at the current exercises, speaking of their past experiences.

What had been displayed as ‘’outreaches” by the past administration, had been exercises for the purpose of political propaganda, by a government that took its cabinet for soliciting mere party support. It was not about bringing, or offering solutions, to whatever region and their communities that were visited. It was about soliciting party support; ensuring its party support base had been intact, and giving political orders for further centralisation, but with citizens’ concerns still unattended and unresolved.

Therefore, the hundreds that have been flocking the Departments of Government that have been visiting the various regions as part of “Bringing the Government to the People”, is a reflection of the build-up of problems, and neglect which made the lives of numerous citizens uncomfortable, and uncertain.

For any government to be successful in its strategy of effectively satisfying the needs of the people, its methodology of governance, its mechanism for effective delivery of services, especially on such an exercise as those now currently undertaken by the coalition, must be innovative and systematic. There must be follow-through actions able to be carried to its final task, until solved. This is what the current “Government department to the People” exercise brings to those who have been waiting for years for such assistance.

It has been very effective, bringing relief to citizens, as those who seek house lots, and titles to their holdings have been expressing. The same goes for those seeking employment; and upgrade training to their already acquired medical skills. Every aspect, be it of a security nature; sanitation and matters pertaining to the environment, which problem has become problematic in some coastal areas are being dealt with, much to the satisfaction of the affected party.

The most recent visit to Linden is an example as to what dissatisfied services have done to the lives of so many of our citizens. There will be further return visits to these regions, since there are many citizens who, for one reason or the other, had been unable to visit the government departments on the appointed day.

The Government’s first and foremost concern is about all Guyanese and communities, irrespective of politico–ethnic hew. Their needs must be satisfied and this is what the current “Bringing the Government to the People” is all about.