Promote pluralism in decision making

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill asked us, the citizens, to forgive and forget the past and accept the New Year with new minds.
I will respond to our PM’s call in this way. Firstly, Government is about power. Power is about decisions. Decisions are about the allocation of resources.
It follows that resource allocation is tied down to decisions and it is the decisions that matter most.
My scribe here is about the institution of decision-making, and how the decision-making process can make and break leaders or governments for that matter.
Power-sharing is the hallmark of a vibrant and healthy democracy.
Separation of powers between legislature, judiciary and executive are clear examples of power sharing. The other terminology used is pluralism.
Pluralism allows power -sharing between different arms of government and even layers of government such as national, provincial and LLG levels.
Secondly, the other terminology is elite and elitism. Elitism contracts pluralism. Elitism promotes a select few, meaning a select few make decisions. Pluralism promotes multiple power sharing, hence, decision-making is made by many people and institutions.
Elitism is very dangerous because not many heads, eyes and ears are involved. Elitism can cripple a country to destruction.
We as individuals have come across or experienced situations where our own individual decisions have caused us problems and destruction. We often regret and express remorse over spilt milk, when we should have consulted our wives, husbands or relatives for their views before making decisions that brought destructions unto ourselves.
In the same analogy, the separation of powers was and is means to avoid or remove elitism and promote pluralism, the check and balance of our decisions in the business of running the business of government.
Thirdly, my New Year message to the PM is to promote pluralism, respect separation of powers principles and give more powers to provincial governments, constitutional offices, departments and agencies. Elitism is very dangerous for a young democracy like ours.
Elitism defeats separation of powers and check and balance processes. Elitism is very dangerous for a consumerist nation like ours. Finally, I have already commended Peter O’Neill as the best-performing prime minister.
No doubt, you are doing very well and I know you have the overwhelming support of Parliament.
The only grey areas of concern are transparency and accountability.

Yapi Akore
Southern Highlands