Address by Senator Hon Benarva Brown at the Launch of the Institute of Governance and, Politics for Latin America and the Caribbean
Introduction
The notion that every person has a role in a nation’s development and growth cannot be overstated. The mission of the Institute of Governance and Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean aligns itself fully with this notion.
Tonight, I will address briefly the importance of cultivating well-informed citizens geared towards civic and social responsibility in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Leadership is also critical for an improved future, so I will also lend my voice to this discussion.
Civic responsibility refers to active participation in a community’s public life in an informed, committed, and constructive manner by citizens, focusing on the common good. It can, therefore, be inferred that an active citizen should seek to promote the quality of life in a community through political and non-political processes using knowledge, skills, and motivation to make a difference in society.
So why is civic responsibility critical for developing a sustainable and prosperous Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Address by Senator Hon Benarva Brown at the Launch of the Institute of Governance and, Politics for Latin America and the Caribbean
Introduction
The notion that every person has a role in a nation’s development and growth cannot be overstated. The mission of the Institute of Governance and Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean aligns itself fully with this notion.
Tonight, I will address briefly the importance of cultivating well-informed citizens geared towards civic and social responsibility in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Leadership is also critical for an improved future, so I will also lend my voice to this discussion.
Civic responsibility refers to active participation in a community’s public life in an informed, committed, and constructive manner by citizens, focusing on the common good. It can, therefore, be inferred that an active citizen should seek to promote the quality of life in a community through political and non-political processes using knowledge, skills, and motivation to make a difference in society.
So why is civic responsibility critical for developing a sustainable and prosperous Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
- Our history is one of exclusion due to colonialism. Our colonial past meant many of our laws, practices, and even spatial configurations were determined by our colonial masters. Indigenous groups like the Caribs imported enslaved Africans, and indentured servants had limited resources and power to realize sustainable livelihoods. It was only in 1951 that we received the right to vote. This is something we must never forget. We are currently righting some of the wrongs made during the colonial eras of our history. Many of our laws need updating to reflect the modern Caribbean society we have become.
- More inclusive development where all social groupings, especially disadvantaged groups, can have a voice in mainstream development. This will bring benefits to all.
- Experiences of other Latin American and Caribbean countries allow us to learn, adopt good ideas, and avoid pitfalls. Knowledge is power, after all.
Working together can create synergies and energies to propel the development process. But working together also creates great network linkages from one grouping to the other.
- The development of relationships and communities that are priceless, and the impact can be immeasurable. Friendships can develop and create a base for the development of well-rounded individuals.
- Embracing civic responsibility for a good society can offer great rewards, including fulfilling one’s purpose and realizing community goals and even more comprehensive national and regional benefits.
- Apart from tackling social problems in their communities, participants experienced the joy of engaging their agency and contributing to social good.
- Information and data collection are critical in high levels of civic responsibility in communities and national development. Often, SVG is described as an information desert that hinders the effective planning and execution of development programs and projects.
An institute like this one will, without a shadow of a doubt, add to the knowledge base. As time progresses and articles and speeches are published, digitized, and collected, this institute will become a huge asset to young scholars locally, regionally, and internationally. There is an appetite for knowledge and information about St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America region.
In addition, increasing civic responsibility can: - protect individual rights
- promote the common good
- provide economic security
- Mold the character of citizens
- furthering the interests of a particular class or group
- promoting a particular religion
- Increase understanding of the importance and relevance of politics, government, and civil society to the daily lives of all Vincentians, e.g., their safety and security, education, employment, health, recreation, and overall quality of life.
- Promote civic character development by fostering recognition of public and private responsibilities and encouraging adherence to the values and principles of constitutional democracy.
- Elevate the sense of civic efficacy, the impact citizens can have on policies at all levels of government and on the character and purposes of the associations and endeavors of civil society.
- A renewed emphasis on the common core of a civic culture that unites individuals from many ethnic, linguistic, religious, and social groups is needed. It can help with the removal of barriers to social cohesion.
- We in SVG must become more civic-minded and work together given our high vulnerabilities and development challenges to natural hazards and hostile external environments.
Saint Vincent is described as a Small Island Developing State or SIDS. Countries given this distinct classification are often limited or plagued by the following characteristics: - Narrow resources which limit the benefits of economies of scale
- small domestic markets and heavy dependence on a few external and remote markets
- high cost of energy, infrastructure, transportation, communication, and servicing
- Long distance from export markets and import resources
- low and irregular international traffic volumes
- little resilience and high exposure to natural disasters
- rapidly growing populations
- high volatility of economic growth
- Limited opportunities for the private sector and considerable reliance on the public sector.
The World Bank has described St. Vincent and the Grenadines as one of the world’s most disaster-prone and vulnerable countries. Our vulnerability is not purely geographical but also social, as disasters in our recent history have demonstrated. Using the 2013 floods as an example, a flood destroyed the lives of many Vincentians in hours.
history have demonstrated. Using the 2013 floods as an example, a flood destroyed the lives of many Vincentians in hours.
Why You should care
Imagine Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where everyone, including the youth, takes responsibility and promotes social good through disciplined action. The results will be unprecedented with reduced crime, increased volunteerism, higher levels of education, greater participation in sports and culture, and an end to political tribalism.
We can no longer avoid conversations of individual and collective participation in nation-building and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ transformation. As citizens, everyone has a role to play, and one person’s negligence has a ripple effect on others.
We must begin to ask ourselves, If not me, then who? If not now, then when?