Governance once more the issue

To us, this prescription is self-evident. It is nothing more than what we in the media and civil society have been saying for a long time, though we are by now resigned to the fact that the government will only take notice when an advice is proffered by an international donor organisation.

More troubling, however, was the response of the finance minister who, seemingly perplexed by the WB position, said that he would seek recommendations of other law-makers after the Eid break as well as talk to WB officials to seek further clarification on the matter.

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While it is always a good sign when the government seeks advice from outside, we do not quite understand the minister's confusion. The link between better governance and poverty reduction is not hard to grasp. It seems to us that the meaning of the WB directive should be perfectly clear.

Indeed, it is not only poverty reduction that would be helped by better governance. Better governance is the key to solving many of the problems which bedevil us here and is the key to our economic and social development.

However, as long as the government is in the mood to listen, we would like to take the opportunity to point out the following: first, as long as no working arrangement with the opposition is reached, there will be little improvement in any sector. Second, when it comes to poverty reduction, the government must consult all relevant stakeholders in connection with both the formulation and implementation of policy. Finally, the country's limited capacity for aid utilisation remains a serious obstacle to poverty reduction. And if this does not qualify as a problem of governance, we would like to know what does.