A better way of governing

The PN has been in government for practically an uninterrupted period of 25 years. It is largely responsible for the severe problems that we face but tries with the help of the stranglehold it has on the levers of patronage and most of the local media, to give the impression that it is part of the solution.

  To address the problems that we have and make our islands viable, open, fair and forward looking we have to adopt the habits, attitudes and behaviour of dynamic societies, successful at developing open societies and effective economies. These dynamic societies are effective because they manage to harvest the knowledge, skills and talents of as many people as possible living within them.

  These dynamic societies manage change well and have means to replace ineffective decision makers in the public and private sector. Such dynamic societies are good at cultivating and nourishing an entrepreneurial and dynamic culture in the economy, in politics and in society. These dynamic and effective societies have persons and structures that are fast at grabbing the opportunities that they actively seek and that come their way.

  Our country possesses and exhibits few if any of these effective habits – thanks to nearly 25 years of PN government that have plunged the country into cronyism, mediocrity and corruption.

  Our islands need a fresh direction. We do not simply need a new party in government. That party needs to have new ideas of how it goes about reviving this country. There is a better way of governing this country and Labour is showing the way. The plans that the Labour Party has drawn up in the last four years and is still in the process of drawing up in partnership with business, unions and civil society show that the party has the open, focused and flexible attitude indispensable to lead the country successfully in tomorrow’s uncharted waters.

  The Labour Party is showing the new approach that is also practiced in successful countries on how best to navigate effectively the uncharted seas of the future. Instead of committing themselves rigidly and stubbornly to one vision of tomorrow and following it relentlessly no matter what, creative and successful decision makers keep their minds open and operate with strategic flexibility along a multi-track mix of policies. They prepare for a range of relevant possible futures. Instead of trying to predict the future, anticipate it by identifying what is driving change and define the range of possible futures.

  Changes have continued to happen so quickly and dramatically that it has become very difficult to foresee the future and plan ahead. This has led some to conclude that strategic planning is impossible. Yet political, business and social organizations need to prepare for futures they cannot predict. They need to know what their citizens will want, what their competitors will do and how further technological and social changes will create new issues they have to be addressed adequately.

The Labour Party is showing that it has the necessary effective leadership skills to give this country a much needed new direction.