By Mark DaCosta- Local Government Elections are Monday, June 12, and Guyanese have to make decisions regarding for whom they will vote. Better informed citizens will probably make better decisions. It may therefore be useful to remind ourselves of what is good governance because that is the decisive desirable outcome of any electoral choice.
The idea of good governance is relatively new. The term was first used by the World Bank in its 1992 report entitled “Governance and Development.” The idea of good governance was explained as the way in which power is used to regulate the economic and social resources of a country for development.
Since that first use of the term, good governance has often been used by national and international organisations. Good governance aims to minimise corruption, take into account the opinions of minorities, listen to the voices of oppressed people in the decision-making process, and respond actively to the needs in the community now and in the future.
Development of the idea of the notion of good governance has been extraordinarily rapid. As things are, experts have reached a degree of general agreement about what attributes constitute good governance, and thinkers are even rapidly moving towards standardised criteria for measuring and quantifying those attributes.
The United Nations (UN) has articulated eight (8) pillars or characteristics that define and indicate the existence of good governance. Those are:
- Participation of all stakeholders in all relevant areas of decision making.
- The rule of law being applied equally to everyone, regardless of any other factor.
- Transparency in all aspects of governance so that information about policies and programs are available to everyone.
- Responsiveness by the government to the needs of the people in a reasonable time.
- Equity and inclusiveness in the access by all citizens to state resources and opportunities for self-improvement.
- Effectiveness and efficiency in the use of available resources so that they are optimally utilised.
- Accountability by officials for their decisions and actions.
The UN states that, “The true test of good governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The key question is: are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security?”
Now that Guyanese are reminded of what good governance is all about, it becomes obvious that this mode or method of governance is essential to the wellbeing, happiness, and improved standard of living of citizens, and the development of individuals, families, and communities.
As Guyanese go to the polls on June 12, perhaps – if we are smart and want a good life – we should take the time to grade the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration on each of the points articulated by the United Nations, and use that grade to make a decision about how to vote.
Three points should be noted:
- Smart Guyanese will decide how to vote based on facts and issues only. Smart people will not allow politicians to fool them with small cash handouts and empty promises.
- Smart people know that we can think for ourselves; we do not have to vote the same way that our grandparents voted; our grandparents lived in a different reality.
- Smart people know that up to the moment that we place our ballot paper in the ballot box, we have the right to change our mind.
