by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Good governance involves creating a culture that will facilitate participatory governance – with a clear understanding of the roles and functions of the various stakeholders; a culture that is devoid of feelings of mistrust.
On Wednesday, September 17, I attended a National Forum on the Establishment of the Civil Society Board (CSB).
In his opening remarks, Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration, Hon. Rodger Samuel, talked about the need for us to journey forward together, to build an inclusive community with a “revitalised spirit of volunteerism and cohesion,” and to “hold Government accountable for what it promised”.
The advertisement for the event on the Ministry’s website stated that “the Ministry has embarked on an initiative to facilitate the formation of a National CSB which is aimed at strengthening the voice and influence of civil society, to create the context and framework for better organisation, workable form, and clear, strong voices.
“The CSB will serve as the mechanism by which Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) would be able to positively contribute to the development of National Policy through elected representatives.”
The Minister stated that the Forum was part of a process that began in 2011. Responsibility for the process now falls within his portfolio.
Following 15 consultative meetings throughout TT, about 150 participants met that Wednesday to be introduced to 75 candidates from NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and CSOs. They will be vying for 15 positions on the Board to represent the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Culture and Heritage
- Environment
- Faith-Based Organisations
- Health
- Labour, Justice and Security
- Sport
- Youth
- Affairs of Persons with Disabilities
- Business
- Community-Based Organisations
- Education and Technology
- Family Affairs
- Social Development and Poverty Alleviation
- Tobago Affairs.
Seven regions have been identified.
There are three documents that were shared at the meeting:
a. The CSB: Concepts, Progress and The Way Forward
b. Draft Terms of Reference for the CSB and
c. Provisional Operational Guidelines for the CSB.
Elections for the positions will be held at the Centre of Excellence tomorrow, Monday September 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CSB will decide if it needs a regional structure to support the work of the 15 sectors.
Knowing of some of the concerns raised by certain individuals on an existing Interim Civil Society Board, I went to listen.
My heart sank when I saw that among the six candidates who are up for elections to represent FBOs, there is NOT a single Catholic, Muslim, or Hindu (except the Raja Yoga Centre) – three of the main religious groups in TT.
I addressed those gathered to make it clear that this state of affairs does not reflect the inclusion about which the Minister spoke and, in fact, could be divisive – a recipe for disaster.
At the previous session at which 911 or so organisations were invited to vote for delegates who would be in the final round, the turnout was poor and one or two persons on the list of 75 were there because they were the only ones who voted for themselves. How representative is that!
The following are just some of the questions/comments from the floor:
- Bishop Philip complained that the Ministry had moved the goalpost since the last meeting – without consultation. Unilateral action taken by the Ministry certainly does not augur well.
- Shouldn’t the Instruments be given by the President and not the Prime Minister? On my table the discussion focused also on whether or not it was the responsibility of the Government to be involved in establishing such a Board in the first place.
- What is Government’s proposal to provide seed money for the Board? I understand that each of the 15 persons will be paid a small stipend and that a Secretariat will be established with Government funding to support the “operationalisation of the Board” – for a period of time. The Board is expected to become independent and raise its own funds at some stage.
- When will the umbilical cord between the Government and the Board be cut? Although we were told that this will take place on the day the Board is installed, it seems that the Ministry has already produced a number of documents, which in my view, should have been produced by the Board – if it is to be truly independent (see above). Also, the Ministry is drafting a charter/constitution for the board. I am aware that there is a Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community (2011).
At the end of the meeting, Rudyard Davidson, policy consultant, said that “the Board is intended to be a resource, an advocate and facilitator to further the interests of Civil Society and to help identify various funding sources. It will not control allocation of Government/Private funding.”
Following the meeting, e-mails are being exchanged with a key player suggesting that instead of an election on September 29 there should be a panchayat “where we can deliberate and agree on the best 15 people to make up the Civil Society Board.”
Since there is no means of ensuring geographical representation – except for Tobago, the election could lead to certain areas having no true representation.
