Dear Editor,
The move by the Ministry of Business and Tourism to create a strategic plan is quite heartening, and is an initiative that should be applauded and copied by other sectors/ministries of government. I am an expat who holds the homeland close to heart, and thanks to social media and the new media age, friends and past colleagues help to make staying informed easy. I became aware of this strategic plan from a friend’s Facebook post of a GINA’s article on the Minister’s consultation forum of August 3.
Having read the article, I expected at least to find a link to the document. Well, I was not so lucky, but fortunately enough the article did end by informing that the document can be found on the ministry’s website. So sure enough I waded through and then came my real disappointment. The document was in ISSUU reader. ISSUU reader is an excellent platform that provides exceptional digital reading experience. So why am I being so petty?
Leading up to, and transitioning into government this new regime has recited a number of themes that resonate well ‒ themes such as consultative management, transparency, fairness, and the list goes on. With respect to consultation, the Guyanese public, both resident and abroad can make valuable contributions to setting the direction on important aspects of the economy such as trade and doing business. But they must be given the opportunity to do so in a manner that is simple, straightforward and accessible, and allows for input with ease. ISSUU reader will not allow you to download, print and have paper in hand. Not all of us are keen on being glued to our digital devices all the time.
As far as my bigger point is concerned, I am peeved that there is still not a central registry where all government policies, changes in the law and regulations, and strategic and development strategies are posted digitally allowing the public to peruse them and respond. The ability to have a say in national policies and contribute to setting the direction of any aspect that will influence nation-building is not a privilege, it is a right. It does not take much to get this done properly, so why the delay?
Yours faithfully,
Andre Dukhia
