Rowley keeping good governance promise

According to the United Nations, there are eight major characteristics of good governance: participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation, equity, effectiveness, and efficiency and accountability.

Having a Prime Minister make himself available to the scrutiny of the public is a level of good governance that is in keeping with the PNM campaign narrative.

Officially addressing the nation directly on four occasions since assuming office with follow-up visits to radio and television programmes is commendable at any regional or global forum.

The level of transparency, accountability, responsiveness and consensus orientation displayed by the PNM has been admirable thus far. The population has to know what the Government is doing, especially when experiencing challenging economic circumstances.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar as Opposition Leader has described Rowley’s address as an explanation “of failure and lacklustre performance.” The truth is that Persad-Bissessar may be right.

The ability, by recognition of duty, to provide an explanation to the population on why things are not going according to plan is the practice of good governance principles. Additionally, highlighting measures being taken by the Government to bring solutions to economic and social challenges is the mantra of good governance.

“Let’s do this” is a rally cry that continues to live on beyond the campaign and now into the governance of the PNM administration. Keeping citizens updated, rallying their support, creativity, innovation and love for country is the type of all-inclusive strategy that will unite our citizens to weather this storm.

The country is more aware now, even more than it has been before, of our economic and social challenges.

We know that the Government needed some time to get its house in order with putting a first budget together, restructuring loans, settling debts, reducing expenditure, sourcing new revenue streams etc.

The Prime Minister has been keeping the population informed and in touch with the Government which is the leadership style that we need to take us forward.

Keep up the good work, Prime Minister.

Ronald Huggins St Joseph