THOMPSON
PRESIDENT OF Northern Caribbean University, Dr. Herbert Thompson, has called for the creation of a new culture in the Jamaican society to allow
for the achievement of good governance.
Dr. Thompson was one of the panelists at last Thursday's discussion on governance at the Cabinet Office, Jamaica House. He outlined 10 areas which he thought the country should address to create the environment for good governance. Among them are teenage pregnancy and single-parent households, the deification of dons and community leaders, dancehall and the culture of violence, squatting and land capture, garrison constituencies, corruption in law enforcement and the link between political parties and gangs.
Dr. Thompson also criticised the country's tolerance of roadblocks as an acceptable form of protest.
PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNANCE
"The governed has a right to disagree with those who govern, but must keep the protest and dissent within the confines of the law," he said. "Those who break the law by openly obstructing the free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic must be brought to book."
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Carlton Davis said governance was more than a matter between government and the people it represents or governs. He said it includes the private sector and NGO community.
Dr. Davis said the traditions and institutions of the state, the capacity of the government to effectively manage its resources and implement sound policies, and the respect of citizens and the state for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions among them were included in a more inclusive concept of governance.
The Cabinet Secretary's presentation focused on 'the role of the techno-bureau-crats in ensuring good governance'.
He said 'techno bureaucrats' who com-prise the technical and administrative personnel in the public sector, needed to have the "relevant values and attitudes" such as proper ethical behaviour and "fairness" in the discharge of their duties. This is in order to ensure good governance. He also listed substantive knowledge in diverse areas, skills derived from experience relating to the procedures of government including the public expenditure process, administering statute, laws and piloting legislation through the various stages among the competencies that were required. He said these and other skills were required for the bureaucrat to operate in a changing local and international environment and to achieve the accepted standard of good governance.
The panel discussion was the second in a series of monthly discussions being put on by the Cabinet Office. Next month's panel discussion will focus on Jamaica's role in the international arena.
