Responsible leadership
By Robert Persaud
Guyana Chronicle
August 8, 2004
BERTRAND Russell in his book titled `Power’ argues: "To acquire the position of leader, he must excel in the qualities that confer authority: self-confidence, quick decision and skill in deciding upon the right measures."
Leaders carry an enormous burden of responsibility. Be it corporate, youth, religious or political, the responsibilities are immense and demanding.
Those who accept this challenge enter into a contract with their members, shareholders and supporters and others who have entrusted them with this task.
Thus it should come as no surprise if the stakes are higher when leaders make mistakes.
And mistakes will be made as leaders are humans who are fallible.
There are various definitions of a good leader.
One of the traits of a good and respected leader is one who owns to his or her mistakes, accepts the fact that something wrong was done and makes an effort to correct any mistakes or missteps.
In the corporate world, leaders are mainly judged based on the numbers in the profit column of the balance sheet, the many opportunities won and threats eliminated. There is a great deal of accountability.
When mistakes upon mistakes are translated into losses and poor performance, those leaders are shown the door.
There is also a relative degree of accountability for leaders in the youth and religious communities, to name a few.
In many countries, when political leaders do not own up to their mistakes they pay dearly. Their supporters demand and ensure that leaders do not make repeated mistakes causing them embarrassment and even irreparable political harm.
Guyana, during the past several years, has witnessed a series of leadership mistakes, missteps and misdeeds committed by those who have occupied political leadership positions in the opposition.
While it is the tendency of that group to go on committing errors and mistakes, this becomes a national concern when the image and even the fortunes of the entire country are affected.
The poor leadership offered to the PNCR is a concern for all because PNCR members and supporters are no less Guyanese than any other group of citizens.
Little needs to be said now about the destruction of Guyana caused by close to three decades of mismanagement of the country as a whole during the dictatorship. The sufferings caused and the decline of the country have been recorded.
Everyone knows the legacy of mal-administration of that party when it occupied the seats of power.
Many had thought that with the easing of the burden of running the government, the quality of political leadership in that party would have improved. This was pure false expectation.
Why would the leadership skills improve if many of those who ran the government then are now still in control of the leadership of the PNCR and with apparently no likelihood of change in the near future?
From 1997, the PNC started the most destructive form of political leadership in opposition. Its late leader advocated making Guyana "ungovernable" and later promised and delivered "slow fire" and then "moh fire."
The politically inspired criminal violence that followed has affected nearly all communities.
The failed attempt to change its image by changing the name from PNC to PNC Reform or re-branding was merely a public relations gimmick.
Everyday, Congress Place makes a bold effort to show that no reform had ever taken place.
The current leader seems to be on a campaign to outdo his predecessors in poor and inadequate leadership.
This started with the pulling out of the constructive engagement process for no real reason.
The uninspiring leadership continued with the contradictory positions on the death squad allegations issues and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate those allegations.
And then, the debacle of the MoU with Desi Bouterse's party on the Guyana/Suriname border dispute.
The spurning of the President's offer to widen the dialogue to include the National Assembly followed this.
And more recently, the excursion to Taiwan.
Burnham and Hoyte would not have done anything to undermine Guyana's border policy or even to vacillate on the one China policy by going to Taiwan.
As was stated before, the PNCR leader is free to embarrass himself. But PNCR supporters deserve better.
Guyana's image is harmed when the Leader of the Opposition and a party of experienced leaders such as the PNCR behaves irresponsibly and embarrasses all Guyanese.
Regarding the Taiwan excursion, the talk about a private visit does not hold water.
Also, the explanations offered in response to the widespread critics have left more questions unanswered, especially those relating to money payment as is the Taiwanese wont.
Guyana deserves sensible, strong and effective leadership.
This type of leadership must not only come from the government but other stakeholders, including the political opposition.