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What do we the people want in a government, our government?

Mostly, the answer depends on who is being asked. Entrepreneurs large and small want a climate supportive of business and economic growth. Visitors want a safe and entertaining experience that isn't too expensive. Seniors want social security in its broadest sense. The youth want exciting things to do. Parents want good education and jobs for their offspring.

Virtually everyone wants good governance.

Good governance describes an ideal that, no matter how difficult to achieve in its totality, must be striven for in policies and actions. Good governance is about character. The presence (or absence) of the following characteristics can help us measure and boost the quality of governance in our

Island.

Participation means involving all sectors of the community, not just those who belong to the same party, race or gender of the ruling clique. It also means freedom of association and expression, so that no individual or group are shunned or favoured because they join one party or another, or no party.

Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially and full protection of human rights, particularly of racial or political minorities. It also means an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.

Without transparency, governance is suspect. Transparency requires that decisions and their enforcement be done in a manner that follows codified rules and regulations - not unwritten rules or rules that are bent to suit the occasion. Transparency requires that information be freely available and directly accessible to all, especially those who will be affected by the decisions and their enforcement.

Perhaps the most essential ingredient of good governance is accountability. This means that at all levels of government those who make and carry out decisions must account for and be answerable to the public for the rationale, process and outcome of those decisions. Accountability means that no matter how tough or probing a question, or what motive is suspected for it, an honest and clear answer is required and delivered.

Good governance is more than a series of events or accomplishments. Good governance is a process, a way of doing things that nurtures the soul of a people.

Of course it is good to fill people's stomachs, but not so much that they become ill. Big cars, fast bikes, no-bid contracts may bring instant gratification; golf tournaments, music festivals and tourism conferences may bring instant recognition. But if the public are left without principles, goaded to treat each other coarsely, inspired to value each other for what they score rather than how they play the game, then the soul of the people is stripped of its sustenance, and social decay and rot begin to set in.

Good governance does not pit the people against each other, or pacify them with vague slogans, or require unquestioning allegiance. Good governance sets an example that, if followed, lifts the people's spirits and strengthens them individually and as a

nation.

And good governance accomplishes all this in a manner essentially free of even the taint of abuse or corruption, and with due regard for the spirit and the letter of the law.

We, the electorate, set the stage for good governance when we vote. We must examine each candidate and each group they are linked to with eyes that look beyond image for substance, with ears that listen through good words for good-ness, with minds that search past dazzle for sound concepts, with hearts that respond not to base emotions but rather to sterling values.

Good governance begins with us and our decisions in the voting booth. Let's vote for leaders of quality.[[In-content Ad]]

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