Beverley Anderson-Manley
It is not unusual for human beings to sometimes feel that "nutten na gwaan" and that it is not possible to do anything about anything. This is not a great feeling. But depending on the experiences taking place around us and our interpretations of those experiences, we sometimes give in to cynicism and resignation. From that place, nothing moves, nothing is possible, nothing can happen that would make a difference. The other side of the coin is that human beings can also see opportunity out of tragedy and seize the moment to actually make a difference.
One of the aspects of democracy emphasised by the ancient Greeks was the roles and responsibilities of the citizen within the Greek Polis. These roles and responsibilities are critical to the way that democracy plays out in any particular society. Citizens who are fast asleep will more than likely get leaders and managers who are also fast asleep. However, a citizenry that is wide awake can act as monitoring and evaluation agents for those whom we elect and pay to represent us as well as the bureaucrats whom we put in place to carry out the day to day operations of the state. This of course assumes a citizenry that is willing to research and understand the issues and a state apparatus that creates an environment within which this can take place. It would require, for example, a Parliament that answers questions put by the Opposition in a timely manner - that is - as quickly as possible. It would require a culture that is not scared of transparency and accountability but one that is committed to giving its citizens as much information as possible.
A CULTURE OF ACTION
What is required is a culture of action rather than a culture of inaction.Within this type of cultural climate, it would be possible for a number of lobby groups to exist and function, including militant consumer groups that base their activism on facts that are readily available. It would require a cul-tural climate that not only appoints committees/commissions of enquiry but when they report, these reports are acted upon expeditiously, bearing in mind that the committee or commission was put in place largely to deal with some type of crisis. It would require sanctions for non-performance. It would require systematic and rigorous procedures for awarding of all contracts and a system that is free and fair where being "genetically linked" means that the process has to be not less but more scrupulous than ever!
Cost overruns would stop being a way of life. High levels of corruption would be contained if not eliminated and those who are elected - even given the inadequacies of the system - would have to truly represent the people. At a minimum level, the citizens would be entitled to know when the Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues travel officially at taxpayers' expense. Citizens would be told the reason for travel, the outcomes expected and whether these were realised.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Within this type of atmosphere, it would not be asking too much to have ongoing discussions with the nurses, the police force and other essential services so that we can avoid the chaos that results when government ignores these entities.
As we approach yet another general election, probably later this year, let us think on these things and so organise our society that both Government, Opposition and the bureaucracy are forced to serve us in exemplary ways. Let us as citizens hold them accountable. Let us as citizens insist on transparency and accountability. Let us as citizens make our demands heard and use our power, not in the interest of any political party, but in the interest of our country. Jamaica deserves far more than we are currently willing to give it.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist, gender specialist and coach. Email address: BManley@kasnet.com
