Leadership with a human touch

Dear Editor,

The recent government outreach across Linden and Region Ten represents an important and commendable approach to democratic governance that cannot be overstated.

His Excellency taking his government directly to the people, listening to citizens where they live, and creating opportunities for communities to engage with policymakers without the usual layers of bureaucracy is most noteworthy.

I was particularly pleased to see the large number of residents who seized the opportunity to attend meetings within their communities and engage Ministers and other government officials directly. Citizens came not merely to complain, but to participate. They raised personal concerns, identified community challenges and, importantly, offered ideas and recommendations for improving the delivery of public services for their benefit.

That is democracy at its most practical.

In several instances, residents received immediate assistance or answers to matters affecting them. In others, commitments were given for follow-up and resolution. This kind of direct engagement helps to narrow the distance between government and governed and it reinforces an important principle of public administration: government must not only formulate policies for people; it must continuously listen to the people those policies are intended to serve.

I must note that the two recurring concerns were particularly evident in the reliability of electricity and the quality and delivery of water across Linden and other communities in Region Ten. Residents were right to raise these issues. Reliable electricity and access to safe, dependable water are fundamental to household wellbeing, business development and the overall economic advancement of our communities.

What was encouraging was that these concerns were not simply heard; residents were provided with information on immediate and short-term interventions, as well as the longer-term direction for addressing these challenges. The real measure of success, naturally, will be the timely implementation of those commitments and the improvements residents experience in their everyday lives.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s approach to governance^[1] deserves particular recognition in this regard. His willingness to leave the confines of offices and formal meetings and engage ordinary Guyanese directly has become a distinctive feature of his leadership.

Whether speaking with a businessperson, a young person seeking an opportunity, a pensioner, a parent, a farmer or an ordinary resident concerned about conditions in his or her community, the President demonstrates an understanding that leadership must ultimately have a “human touch”.

There is something valuable about a President being prepared to stand among citizens, hear their concerns firsthand, ask questions, demand answers from officials and seek practical solutions. It sends a powerful message that public office should never become disconnected and aloof from the everyday experiences of the people.

This hands-on approach also strengthens accountability. When ministers, technical officers and other decision-makers are brought directly before communities, citizens can articulate their concerns without having their voices diluted or lost as information passes through multiple administrative layers. Government officials, in turn, gain a clearer appreciation of conditions on the ground.

Equally encouraging was the confidence and boldness demonstrated by the people of Linden and Region Ten. Residents engaged their elected representatives and government officials respectfully, firmly and constructively. They did not surrender their right to question government; rather, they exercised it responsibly. That is precisely the relationship a mature democracy should encourage.

The people must speak, government must listen, and where legitimate problems exist, practical solutions must follow, this is what the Ali administration is about.

President Ali’s philosophy of taking government directly to communities therefore deserves support, not simply because it brings ministers closer to citizens, but because it encourages a more responsive model of governance, one in which people increasingly become participants in national and community development rather than spectators.

For Linden and Region Ten, this engagement should therefore be viewed not as the conclusion of a process, but as another important step in an evolving partnership between government and the people.

President Ali’s down-to-earth engagement with ordinary Guyanese, his practical and hands-on approach to problem-solving, and his willingness to take government beyond Georgetown and directly into communities represent a leadership style worthy of commendation. The last time the majority of Guyanese had experience with this type of engagement was with then President Jagdeo more than 20 years ago and President Ali has taken it to a new level.

Ultimately, government is at its best when it is closest to the people.

Leadership must listen. Leadership must engage. Leadership must act.

And when government goes directly to the people not merely to speak, but to listen, understand and deliver it gives genuine meaning to the principle that development must be with the people, for the people and ultimately felt by the people.

References

1. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali Announces More Roads, Water Expansion and New Development Push for Coomacka and Region 10 - DemocracyGuyana.com - Reporter Georgetown Guyana — democracyguyana.com ↩