Taking decision-making to the people fundamental in great governance – Ali

Allowing Guyanese to be part of the decision-making aspect in communities and for the country’s future development is a fundamental pillar in Government’s thrust towards achieving great governance.
President Irfaan Ali shared this position during a recent engagement, wherein he outlined that senior Government officials and Cabinet Members are engaging everyone during consultations and decision-making processes that would affect citizens.

“I don’t know how more democratic we can be. The leaders of this Government – Ministers, Vice-President, Prime Minister – we’re not hiding in a room and having a meeting with 10 people. We are going to the communities in the open, inviting everyone. Those meetings are then televised, streamed live on Facebook. We’re not hiding comments from anyone,” the Guyanese Leader contended.
“Any issue they have can be brought up in this big tent approach, where every single person is involved. Decisions are made on the ground, with consultation with the people. Their ideas, views are all brought in the open on one table, not behind some closed door. That is not how we operate,” said the Head of State.
Ali outlined that it is part of the bigger picture, where citizens develop a sense of ownership for issues ongoing in the communities and the solutions that follow.
“It is not taking governance to the people; it is taking decision-making to the people. Governance is one aspect, but decision-making in consultation with the people is what makes a difference, because it creates ownership. People feel part of the decision-making process.”
He added, “We understand how good governance is important for the developmental trajectory of our country, how it is important for investors’ confidence in our country, and I cannot allow the misgivings of those who consider themselves the virtues of good governance to continue.”
Moreover, the President established that, in ensuring a democratic country, there is the freedom at all levels to represent and participate in governance.
“Every political party or individual can contest in any local government elections, whether it is an NDC, RDC, and the will of the people would be adhered to. So, there’s nothing debarring anyone from being part of the democratic process of being representative of the people at the local level,” he asserted.
This year, over $750 million has been set aside in Budget 2022 for the preparations to be undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE).
This money was part of an overall $4.1 billion allocation to GECOM in Budget 2022, and was examined and approved by the National Assembly during its consideration of the 2022 Budget Estimates. Included in the $783 million for LGE is an increase of over $300 million in “other goods and services purchased”, which jumped from $250.8 million in 2021 to $575.9 million in the 2022 budget.
In December 2021, GECOM Chair Claudette Singh had written Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall to confirm that the electoral body would be unable to hold Local Government Elections in 2021.
She had explained that since the Commission was currently without a Chief Elections Officer, who by law is required to manage the conduct of elections in Guyana, GECOM was “unable” to have the elections at that point in time. However, after a rigorous process, GECOM has since hired Vishnu Persaud as the new CEO. (G12)