Needed: A governance revolution

THE EDITOR: It is not by accident that TT has arrived at this critical juncture on its ambitious journey to genuine socio-economic and sociopolitical development. The country has travelled the historical path towards maturity – from colonial rule to independence to republicanism – with the hope, belief and aspiration for an improved quality of life for all its citizens.

During this journey, the country has experienced many challenges, particularly in the context of pervasive, seductive, unwanted foreign influences, and a capitulation of its tried and tested traditional social values. We are now at the juncture where our sociopolitical and sociocultural status quo is perpetuating an unbearable state of existence where issues of poverty, crime, violence, human trafficking, corruption, vagrancy, homelessness and social services dysfunction are prevalent.

In the current scenario one can easily identify contentious and certainly harmful issues facing the country as they relate to: the transformation of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the reform of the criminal justice system, police service efficiency with respect to crime fighting and organisational management, prison service reform where 50 per cent of prisoners are currently on remand, some for as many as ten years, and the prevalence of violence against women and girls, to name a few.

Management of the covid19 regulations as it relates to enforcement efforts being pursued by the police and strategies to protect the turtle population can also be added to the list of issues currently in contention.

The abrupt withdrawal of the trade union movement from the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC) is another significant development which portends an increase in industrial conflict across all sectors of labour. If this state of affairs is left unchecked it is more than likely that our society would eventually descend into chaos and anarchy, a situation which we certainly cannot afford.

The solution therefore is to identify and implement an appropriate strategy that will reverse the existing trends and ensure that our society is placed on a path to wholesome recovery. A governance revolution, involving strategic collaboration among all sectors of society, is respectfully proffered as a viable strategy to achieve the desired reforms that will successfully lead our country into the future. Genuine collaboration, however, must be the critical driving force of this revolution.

KEITH RENAUD

Chaguanas