Civics addresses how government functions and how individuals participate in the democratic process. It is about us and how we are governed. It should therefore follow that civics is a subject in which all citizens should be interested. For our democratic processes to work effectively citizens must seek to understand and engage the systems applicable to the operations of government.
To effectively participate in the governance of a country a citizen should understand how government works and the value that are expected to shape the workings of government. Citizens need to be informed and to seek to be informed. It is, however, not enough to be informed, citizens must be prepared to act having been informed. Action should not be restricted to the voting process every five years. Action also involves actively and regularly holding institutions of government accountable.
A significant aspect of civics is how a person conducts themselves as they go about participating in the governance of their country. It is the diversity of people and their ideas and perspectives that makes life interesting. Civics requires that in our engagements with each other and with government institutions we are civil and respectful as we engage with each other and institutions of government.
In the context of Anguilla, is civics alive and well? Social media discussions suggest that there is a lack of understanding of how government works among a sizable proportion of Anguilla’s populace. Many persons do not understand the difference between Executive council and the House of Assembly. The difference between a policy decision and legislation is not apparent to many persons. The workings of our judicial system is a mystery to far too many persons.
Where does the fault lie for the apparent lack of knowledge on the part of so many Anguillians? Civics, one anticipates, is covered to some extent in the Social Studies programme in our schools. The depth is questionable based on the apparent absence of a basic understanding of how government works demonstrated by so many Anguillians. Are our teachers equipped to provide a basic understanding of how government works should students raise pertinent questions during the delivery of their subject matter? Teachers are very often versed in their subject area while being at a loss as to how government functions, even in respect of matters which directly affect them such as the development of the government’s annual budget.
Government has a responsibility to make citizens aware of how government works and this can be done through formal school programmes or through departmental or ministerial publications or pronouncements. The recent opportunity taken by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Assembly to explain the legislative basis for the action she took in respect of a member when his presentation in the House was truncated, is an example of a public figure educating the populace as to the rules governing the workings of government.
The sole onus for ensuring awareness about the workings of government does not lie with government institutions. Citizens are not absolved of the responsibility to display a natural interest and curiosity, which would see them pursuing information to ensure their understanding of the functioning of government. The size of Anguilla and our familiarity with public figures makes any excuse we raise for being in the dark laughable.
An understanding of government and the role of citizens in ensuring that government works efficiently and effectively, in accordance with certain values and principles, is essential if citizens are to effectively monitor and participate in governance in Anguilla. Civics cannot be allowed to be a dying concept.
