Building stakeholders’ collaboration

It has been repeated ad infinitum by various government ministers and other officials: stakeholders’ collaboration is critical... However, when it comes to tackling social issues, the gap between words and deeds remains unbreachable. And, to be one of the few who are embraced as ‘collaborators’, you have to be a celebrity, have political affiliations, belong to particular groups, know ‘connected’ ones…be seen as one of ‘us’ and not one of ‘them’.

In fact, many of the government’s actions negate its mantra of stakeholders’ collaboration. For example, at a recent parliamentary sitting on suicide (at which The Caribbean Voice made a presentation), a cabinet minister was quoted in the local media as referring to a 2016 National Stakeholders’ Conference on Suicide. How can a conference be national when its attendees were less than 25% of all stakeholders and many of the major stakeholders were not invited? Contrast this with a 2015 National Stakeholders’ Conference on Suicide and Related Issues organized and fully funded by The Caribbean Voice (TCV) and its partners, at which there were over 60 stakeholders and another 15 plus activists, as well as media, members of the Diplomatic Corp and Cabinet Ministers.

On the other hand most stakeholders continue to strive for real and meaningful collaboration. One significant example of stakeholders’ collaboration is the National Anti-Violence Candle Light Vigil launched last year by Voices Against Violence, a loose umbrella of over 50 organizations, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. This event saw about 300 vigils held across Guyana.

2017 is year two for this vigil. This year’s vigil is being held under the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day: ‘Take A Minute, Save A Life’. Vigils are inexpensive and easy to organize and Voices Against Violence is urging all organizations to join hands and ensure that their communities come together to focus on suicide, all forms of abuse and other types of violence. Additionally, individuals should reach out to any organization of which they are members or that exists in their communities, and urge them to organize vigils.

This vigil is an attempt to get communities across Guyana involved in anti-violence activism, while fostering the concept of communal action for community well-being. It is hoped that this vigil will catalyze genuine togetherness and enhance the process of communities taking ownership for their safety. That process is also expected to create the environment for NGOs to collaborate with community leaders and organizations to hold community empowerment sessions and help implement anti-violence training.

For the purposes of this vigil all of the following are considered acts of violence either against self or others: trafficking in persons, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse/addiction, domestic and child abuse, rape, incest, teenage pregnancy, road carnage, dysfunctional relationships, neglect of the elderly, abuse of the mentally and physically challenged.

Violence should be addressed holistically and when communities come together they begin to communicate, connect and care as they build togetherness while