From colonial times to our troubled era of emerging
democracy, the Guyanese people have faced and
overcome many obstacles.
Now
the time has come for Guyana to take its next step:
to develop into a twenty-first century state. To do
so, it must mature as a democratic, multi-racial,
multi-ethnic, free enterprise and technologically
advanced society.
And
in the course of this process, we must exorcise the
political ghosts of the past that haunt us: the
ghosts of failed policy, racial tension, corruption
and poverty. The 2003 World Bank Report states
that Guyana is at a crucial point. We can either
become a “failed state” or we can begin anew the
long process of improved governance and economic
recovery. Many challenges lie before us.
In the Arena of Governance
How
Guyana is governed affects us all. Good governance
requires the election of a common-sense government
that rejects corruption and racism, is accountable
and gets measurable results.
Good governance will allow for a strong, capable and
modern military as the foundation of peace, and will
allow Guyana to undertake a new leadership role both
in this hemisphere and in CARICOM.
The Conditions of Good Government
A
democratic government is essential to
our future. Government is the mechanism we use to
make communal decisions: where to build a highway,
what to do about the homeless, what kind of
education to provide for our children. It is how we
provide services that benefit all our people:
national defence, environmental protection, police
protection, highways, dams, and water systems. It
is the way we solve collective problems.
We
must demand accountability. This
requires a government that is transparent and
participatory, a government that focuses on results,
not rules, and that enables and encourages the
Guyanese people to partake in the formation of
policy. As a people, we want a businesslike
government, one that makes smart decisions, works
better and costs less. To achieve this, the
government must create partnerships with the private
sector and the private sector must be willing to
accept the challenge.
Our
national foundation must be based on family,
faith and freedom. We are, first and
foremost, Guyanese; as such, we must honour the
state and constitution of Guyana in a way that is
moral and just. We must pledge ourselves to defend
our national sovereignty, to respect humanity and to
cherish and uphold the principles of democracy and
fundamental human rights. We must be dedicated to
the principle that the people of Guyana are entitled
to enjoy the highest standard of living and quality
of life. We must acknowledge our common purpose of
national cohesion and our destiny as one people, one
nation.
In the Arena of Public Policy
All
Guyanese must engage in public discourse regarding a
range of constructive programs for the benefit of
all, including:
! An aggressive
housing and land initiative so that all Guyanese may
aspire to decent housing.
! A healthcare
system that employs all the tools of modern
medicine.
! The protection
and preservation of our natural environment.
! The creation of
jobs by modernizing our industries and creating new
opportunities.
! An educational
system second to none, with a culture of achievement
that includes every young child.
As
we build these positive steps for our future, we
must also be focussed on ensuring equity
and equal opportunity for all
Guyanese. We must fervently affirm that equity is
both a right and critical to our success as a
multi-ethnic nation.
In the Business Arena
We
must introduce a free-enterprise economic framework
that promotes rapid and sustainable economic and
social growth. To do so, we must radically reform
our business climate, which at present is not
conducive to private enterprise. This will take the
combined efforts of public and private sector
leaders working together. These leaders will rectify
Guyana’s lack of a business-like approach. They will
see to it that micro-management and reactive plans
are replaced by an extended vision that assures
measurable objectives of success. And they will
replace Guyana’s present business flaws with
accountable and transparent systems.
Additionally, Guyana must market aggressively
to other nations, diversifying our economic base
into new products that are competitive on the world
market, and attracting foreign investment.
The Decade of the Guyanese People
Finally, we need bold leaders from all walks of
life: qualified and optimistic men and women with
the courage of their convictions and the vision to
lead our nation to greatness.
All
of these goals can be met–but only with the robust
participation of the people of Guyana. All of us
must resolve to make the coming ten years the
decade of the Guyanese people.
Let
us start now to attain these goals. Working
together, we will make them a reality.
