Political will and strong values critical for good governance and sustainable development

Visionary leadership and good governance are vital elements for the successful development of a country, said Dr Joan Nwasike, Acting Head of Commonwealth Regional Programmes and Adviser for the Caribbean region at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

She stressed that political will and strong values are pivotal in paving the way for good governance to thrive, which will facilitate sustainable development.

Dr Nwasike was addressing delegates in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, on 28 July 2011 at the opening of a two-day Governance and Development Retreat for Opposition Members of Parliament.

She emphasised that taking ownership of national development requires the drawing up of strategic plans and priorities to attain national goals and chalking up milestones in the journey towards progress.

"Effective leadership can inspire a nation to support policies and programmes for national development, while good governance ensures that a government adds value to its country through effective allocation of resources and creative management of development challenges," said Dr Nwasike.

She stated that clearsightedness, consistency and the flexibility to embrace change in order to achieve desired targets are key to good leadership. She noted that some countries suffer from development paralysis due to the lack of political will, modern institutional frameworks and the lack of inclusivity of all stakeholders, including citizens.

Dr Nwasike urged stakeholders, including the Opposition and the private sector, to work together to develop creative and workable strategies to tackle the nation's development agenda. She drove home the point that real development can only take place when the process is shared and owned by all.

Dr Nwasike said the heart of successful governance lies in the political and administrative interface - between the cabinet and bureaucrats in the government administration. She stated that small island developing states in particular, including Caribbean countries, are challenged by many factors such as inherent vulnerabilities due to their geographical location, small economies and climate change. Thus, working creatively and collectively on a shared goal towards a development agenda is crucial in attaining the hopes and aspirations of the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Secretariat aims to strengthen the centre of government by creating an enabling environment for governance and development to thrive, Dr Nwasike told the delegates. She said the Secretariat assists in building the capacity of governments to govern effectively and lead dynamically.

Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace of the New Democratic Party, who is a delegate at the Commonwealth workshop, said his party is intent on moving St Vincent and the Grenadines forward on a meaningful development path through good governance. He said much can be learned from the two-day Commonwealth workshop on improving governance.

Mr Eustace commended the Secretariat for its focus on small states, democracy and development to help member countries to build their capacities for progress.