Incomplete Citizenship of the Plantation Community: Access to Governance Institutions and
Public Service Delivery
institutions in order to eradicate all forms of discrimination
against this community and to make sure that they enjoy
substantial benefits of citizenship. This chapter also informs
policy makers that there is a need to develop public institutions,
train officials, formulate and implement policies in a manner
consistent with impartiality, fairness, rule of law, and effectiveness
and efficiency. It could improve access to public services and
governance for all segments of society, regardless of ethnicity,
social class, identity and education, which in turn can improve
the quality of governance and trust in public institutions and in
government. This chapter also provides causal explanation to
understand the relationship between the quality of governance,
access to public services, institutional variables and social
citizenship rights.
More importantly, as the evidence shows, the people of the
plantations demand better and equal public service delivery
together with greater accountability and responsiveness.
Entrenched inequalities, marginalisation, endemic corruption
in service delivery, indifferent treatment and unfairness in
implementing policies and programmes and exercising power,
have fuelled these demands – creating a deeper sense of urgency
in service delivery shortcomings and governance issues. Namely,
creating space for stronger citizens’ voice and participation,
and demand for appropriate institutional and policy reforms,
could bring positive changes in gaining access to governance
institutions which in turn could ensure service delivery desired
by this community. Such measures would enable the Plantation
Community to make meaningful choices about service delivery
quality, access, accountability, efficiency, and equity.
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