Gov’t should be more sensitive to ethnic, gender equality

guyana chronicle editorial

OVER the last week the Government found itself on the back foot as critics and supporters questioned the wisdom of three separate actions and potential actions. First, its announcement of membership to some State boards generated swift responses from at least two interest groups, along with individual activists.They observed that the boards were not representative of the country ethnically nor in terms of gender. We have to agree with that observation. Notably, the Government has said it would review the matter. There are lessons to be learned here. This Government needs to do more consultation than it appears to be doing. It cannot make the mistakes of the previous Government. Its mandate is to correct those mistakes; not repeat them. One understands that any Government has to find places for the activists who worked to deliver for them. But that has to be balanced with competence and ethnic, gender and generational considerations. Governments in the 21st century cannot be insensitive to adequate representation of women. They represent more than half of the population and are as competent as men are. The issue of ethnicity is equally sensitive and should have been given much more consideration in the process. The APNU+AFC Government knows how explosive ethnicity and race are. It knows that the PPP is quietly waiting in the wings for the opportunity to accuse it of racism. It has to show in deed and word that it stands for equal representation and equality in general. One of the positives to come out of this is the Government’s admission that it made a mistake. This is a good sign, whereby the Government admits error and vows to correct it. The other issues had to deal with budgetary allocation for a raise of the salaries and per-diem for Ministers and MP’s. As was anticipated, the PPP blew it out of proportion by reporting much larger increases. We believe this was “scare tactics” at its best. But the Government should have known that the reaction from all quarters, including its own supporters, would be uncomplimentary. Yes, Government functionaries should be adequately compensated. But that cannot be done at the expense of budgetary proposals aimed at creating employment and raising the wages of the working poor, in particular. We are sure that some of the latter is in the budget. But for a Government that rose to power on the basis of mass anti-corruption and Government waste sentiments, it might have made sense to avoid any raise of salaries for ministers so early in its tenure. Although the Government has corrected the PPP’s propaganda, the damage has already been done. In future the Government should be much more sensitive to the sentiments in the larger society. And above all, it needs to consult more before making big decisions.