THE PPP/C administration has embarked on a governance approach in which the views and inputs of stakeholders are key elements. This is manifested in the several outreach visits to several regions of Guyana led by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and other senior government functionaries.

This is part of a bottom-up approach to development where the views and concerns of ordinary people are solicited to inform government programmes and policies.

President Ali has always insisted on a governance modality that is driven by grassroot involvement. He had repeatedly said that the approach of his administration to decision-making is one of stakeholder engagement, which could pave the way for the realisation of the One Guyana vision. People are central to development and it is only natural that they contribute to that process of nation-building.

Consistent with that vision, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has embarked on a ‘virtual’ conversation involving stakeholders from all sectors of Guyana such as the religious community, civil society and other groups and individuals in society.  The conversations are intended to create spaces to share opinions and raise concerns and have these addressed through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The forum is also intended to share information about government initiatives in order to keep constituencies informed and also to encourage broad-based participation in discussions on matters of national importance.

Information sharing, it must be said, is an important management concept. From a governance perspective, it can be a dynamic and interactive process, one in which citizens raise issues of concern to them and propose possible solutions. Government on the other hand can update citizens on policies and programmes put in place to address issues of concerns.

This is democracy in action for which the PPP/C administration must be commended. It was the PPP/C administration that initiated the practice of Cabinet outreaches where the President, Cabinet ministers and senior government officials are afforded the opportunity to interface directly with members of the respective communities; to listen to issues of concern and come up with possible solutions. This approach to governance stands in sharp contrast to the top-heavy and bureaucratic style of governance under the previous APNU+AFC administration which in the main was characterised by aloftness and inaccessibility between the governed and those in leadership positions.

According to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira, her ministry has re-commenced the convening of the National Stakeholder Forum which started under the PPP/C administration but was discontinued by the previous APNU+AFC administration.

The stakeholder forum has provided a mechanism to engage in a conversation with members of civil society and is part of the PPP/C Government’s efforts to reach out to diverse segments of the population, to listen to their concerns and to update them on developments that are taking place in the country.

Minister Teixeira explained that to ensure that the meetings were not ‘talk shops’, there were follow up session from previous meetings where responses were given to issues raised in previous meetings and actions taken to have those issues addressed. According to the minister, engagements with a view of securing resolutions for stakeholders’ concerns have been consistent with what the PPP/C practiced during its previous terms in office.

Among the several areas of discussion was the draft 2030 Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in which participants were encouraged to submit feedbacks to the relevant authorities. The idea is to work together in the interest of society as a whole.

These are all the key elements of a government that is answerable to the people. There was a time in our history when accountability to the people was never regarded as a governance principle. That was because the then PNC Government was not democratically elected to office and therefore never felt it necessary to answer to the people. In fact, there is a close correlation between undemocratic rule and high levels of corruption as experience in Guyana and elsewhere have demonstrated.

Accountability and good governance is one of the hallmarks of the PPP/C administration. This approach to governance has been repeatedly made by President Ali. Indeed, the culture of governance in Guyana has now changed to one of greater transparency and accountability to the people of Guyana for which the PPP/C administration must be commended.