“Behind all good leadership is good governance” is the title of an article written for the World Economic Forum, in June 2012, by Abigail Noble, Head of the Latin America and Africa Office, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. In the article, the author opined:
“It is common wisdom that behind every leader [is] a team that executes the vision and many followers who support the leader’s work. Yet, we rarely talk about the accountability mechanisms that make sure the leadership is on the right course. Any leader and all teams, organizations and nations succeed in the long run because of the strategic support and expert oversight they receive that keep them and their organizations on the right path. Governance, which includes … monitoring systems and signalling mechanisms like codes of conduct, ensures the success of leadership visions and organizational potential in the long run.”
In short, the institutions of governance are what keep leaders in check. Governance ensures that a series of checks and balances are in place so that leaders do not have unfettered power. Governance mechanisms keep leaders accountable.
The arrest and detention of BVI’s Premier (now former Premier) Mr Andrew Fahie on drug trafficking and money laundering offences in Florida, his refusal to resign his position, the vote of no confidence in the BVI Parliament to remove him from office, the appointment of a new Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, the Commission of Inquiry Report which recommends the suspension of the BVI Constitution, dissolution of Parliament, and direct rule from the UK for a period of two years, the outcry from the BVI Government and regional leaders and organisations denouncing the draconian measures being recommended to deal with the issues of systemic corruption facing the territory – are all the result of poor leadership and governance. The events unfolding in the BVI will sadly be considered a reflection of the state of leadership in the Caribbean. However, there is little we could say in our defence because they are not alone.
One only has to look to the south to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis where Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris just fired six Ministers of Government, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Shawn Richards, and the Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley, and reassigned their portfolios. The revocation of the ministerial appointments came under the hand and seal of the Governor General on the request of the Prime Minister. This follows weeks of public disagreements between members of the Unity Government and the Prime Minister which ended with the same six ministers writing to the Governor General, about three weeks ago, indicating that the Prime Minister no longer commanded the majority support – and to begin the process for a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister in the Parliament. While the ministers awaited action on their request, to the Governor General and the Speaker of the Parliament, the Prime Minister was working behind the scenes to give them the axe. I am no authority on the Constitution of St Kitts and Nevis and its governance mechanisms, but clearly something has gone awry with leadership and governance in the Federation.
While my immediate focus is on the Caribbean, these challenges are not unique to this region. I believe what may have incensed many Caribbean leaders regarding the proposed approach to the BVI situation is that the UK itself has had to grapple with issues of corruption, and the like, in public office so they are not without sin. In those situations, they did not totally dismantle institutions and “throw out the baby with the bath water” but, rather, they worked to put measures in place to prevent the reoccurrence. What is being advocated is that they take a similar approach in the BVI.
My concern, however, is not so much on the UK response – but our response as Caribbean people. Our outrage, in the BVI, St Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean, where these issues are raising their ugly heads, should not be directed outward, but inward at the leaders who we elected to office to lead with integrity and in our best interest – and at the absence of governance mechanisms or the failure of those mechanisms to function as they should. What we should be outraged about is that even when Caribbean leaders are found to be compromised, they rarely do the right thing and step aside in the interest of their country. They have to be removed from office kicking and screaming.
The reality is that when leadership and governance fail the people suffer – the country and the region suffer. The implications of reputational damage, loss of public trust and in extreme cases, anarchy, are far reaching and cannot easily be mitigated. Our best response is to focus on building robust governance mechanisms to ensure we have good systems of accountability in place – which would encourage or compel leaders to stay on the right course and lead with integrity.
