SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER, 2014 – UWI TODAY
7
One of the elements
of the Conference on the Economy was
the Armchair Discussion held on September 11 as a lead-
up to the actual event on October 9 and 10. Developed for
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the discussion
focused on “People Power and Constitution Reform,” which
was an area critical to the late Professor Dennis Pantin.
It was sponsored by the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union
(OWTU).
Speakers at the discussion were (from left) Mr.
Tony Fraser (moderator), Dr. Bishnu Ragoonath, Head,
Department of Political Sciences, Mr. David Abdulah,
General Secretary, OWTU, and Dr. Olabisi Kuboni, Chair,
Constitution Reform Forum (CRF).
Good governance is a
necessary
precondition for
development, particularly
in determining its pace and
character. While anyone
can attempt to govern,
good governance speaks
to the issue of
how
the act of governing is executed.
It encompasses a wide range of social, political and
economic activities in which the major characteristics
include ensuring participation in decision-making
by men and women, consensus-driven processes,
promoting accountability and transparency,
encouraging responsiveness with respect to serving
the nation’s stakeholders, promoting efficiency and
effectiveness, providing the opportunity to improve
well-being and the protection of human rights, and
compliance with the rule of law.
The late Professor Dennis Pantin identified issues
of governance as major impediments to a nation’s
development. One of his major issues with the current
state of governance in the Caribbean region is its close
resemblance to the colonial system that it replaced. Sir
Arthur Lewis’ solution to the Moyne Commission for
this “problem” included a proposal for self-rule which
was intended to address the neglect of the colonists and
to facilitate growth in the economies. However, many
of the region’s constitutions, which were inherited
from colonisers, left Caribbean economies stalled and
suffering. Existing governing principles had left power
in the hands of a few, who seek tomaintain this control
over a long time.
As one of the founders of the Constitution Reform
Forum (CRF), Professor Pantin was particularly
passionate about issues of “people power and
constitution reform” in the governance dialogue.
Popular participation was central to this, in the right
People Power
THE ECONOMY
of public discussion should comprise persons of civil
society organizations whose membership ought to
transcend party affiliations.
For some, a sense of misplaced comfort in their
socio-economic status renders attention to issues of
constitution reform as invalid or divorced from daily
activities which promulgate such status. However, it
is important to keep the common good in mind and
not sacrifice it for such misplaced “comforts,” which
sometimes do not reflect the conditions of the masses.
Moreso, there is need for a more proactive rather than
reactive approach to constitution reform, particularly
on contemporary issues.
While the concept of good governance allows for
elected governments and entities to be transparent
and accountable, we as a people also have a mandate
to hold those elected accountable for their actions.
Are our opinions formed by our party affiliations?
Are we still divided, as Pantin put it, by “too much
prevailing individualism”? According to Pantin, we
need structures which facilitate open and frank debate,
accountability and transparency, and objection to the
exclusion of the people from the process of making or
amending the constitution.
Self-rule:
the Ultimate All-inclusive
B y R o x a n n e B r i z a n a n d K e r o n V i c t o r
Professor Dennis Pantin’s ideas will be the focus for discussion at COTE 2014 with the theme
“Addressing Contemporary Local and Regional Challenges for Sustainable Development.” This conference is hosted by the Department of Economics,
UWI, St. Augustine from October 9-10, 2014 at the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Auditorium, UWI St Augustine Campus.
While the concept of good
governance allows for elected
governments and entities
to be transparent and
accountable, we as a people
also have a mandate to hold
those elected accountable for
their actions.
to call a referendum on issues of national importance
and to recall representatives for breach of contract.
Constitutions, Pantin indicated, were not for angels
or written to protect to us from angels. Rather, it was
written to protect us from devils. Therefore, he noted
that the constitution needs to assume the worst about
human nature and put in place checks and balances
that make it impossible for anyone to be mandated the
maximum leader.
This issue of constitution reform is a pertinent
cause for reflection given the recent constitutional
debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
In issues of constitution reform, Pantin highlighted
the importance of devoting time and resources to
the education of the public on issues of constitution
reform; this is a key component of good governance.
With reference to the conduct of a referendum, Pantin
indicated in 2007 that it is necessary that political
parties declare their proposed time frame for public
dialogue prior to the actual referendum and the
identification of persons/institutions to facilitate public
discussions. In keeping with good governance and
the issue of transparency, he felt that the facilitators
Roxanne Brizan
and
Keron Victor
are Teaching Assistants
at the Department of Economics, UWI, St. Augustine.
