Somaliland: Half Of The Time In Government Is Wasted, But No One Knows Which Half

Events of potential strife inflicting impacts on the public always happen in everywhere. An old woman complaining against the price of bread may stire up street anger that might cause public uprise, which might in turn cause human casualty. The arrests of some prominent opposing politicians  could prompt massive demonstrations and cause huge damage to  public properties.

The cost of human lost sometimes causes the downfall of democratically elected governments. For democratic governments are accountable to the people. The fact is, reacting after social, economic anf political events — the manner in which they are handled and remedied  — is what measures the scale of government conviction for the care of human life.

As history is our guide, we encounter with occurrences that are even worse than conlicts and clashes between opposing forces and  experience overt all-out wars between tribes, nations and countries.

Somaliland is no exception.

Every country, rich or poor, has problems.  For the most part, some governments are able to quickly solve problems without much trouble. Such governments either come up with a quick solution or use a strategy that worked well in the past.

Problems become more difficult when there is no obvious solution and strategies that were tried in the past but didn’t and don’t work. These types of problems cause a great deal of stress and anxiety and require new and different strategies.

The execptionality lies in how responsibly, wisely and willingly governments solve and deal with their problems.

There is no shame if there are many problems in Somaliland that cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. The shame is when we neither have quick solution nor strategy that worked in the past.

 What sickens most of us is the way in which Somaliland government always reacts and responds to problems which inflict unafforfable economic burdens on Somaliland citizens.

The regular imports of contaminated energy by Somaliland petroluem companies which usually cause serious mechnical damage to a cinsiderable number of public and private vehicles is the case in point.

To import commodity that causes human  health hazards and huge damage to most of our transportation means poses the questions ” Why do we need government? And what purpose does it serve in the public?”

The most basic purpose of government is protection.  Protection is defined as the “state of being free from danger or threat”, which basically means the care of human life.

To explain the care of human life in detail, government is to protect:–

1. An individual from another individual.

2. An individual from a group.

3. A group from another group.

    (Protect people from one another)

In addition to above, government must also:–

a) Establish Justice

b) Ensure domestic tranquility

c) Provide for the common defense

d) Promote the general Welfare

e) Protect public properties

Since above conditions are the basic social contract between the governments and the people, why Somaliland current administration fails to do anything about the problems causing pains in a responsible way? Where does the resource of our government negligence come from? Does it come from the lack of ability? Or is it that arrogance and inconsideration come from the leadership’s side?

There are problems that can only be remedied by material resources and mentality, that we know. But what about the problems that require just actions and implementation through rules and regulations?

Doesn’t this mean that our government acts contrary to the general welfare of the people?  Or are there individuals within the government that dominate the entire country for their own ends? Are we not fully aware that there are ills in public services that could be improved when rules and regulations are enforced and observed in letter and spirit?

Everyone knows, as the old gag puts it, that half of the time in goverment is wasted, but no one knows which half. The best thermometer to good government is its treatment of its people.

The welfare of the people is the most telling measure of our nation’s success – and their potential is the most promising element of its future. It is up to us – all of us – to safeguard that future.

Great leaders always come up with solutions to problems everybody can understand. The point is where to find that leader at this time and age.

Government is a system, an institution  connecting different ideas in a fantastic aspect of creativity, that is a form of recognizing the reality that connectivity of heart and mind, if applied, is wonderful solution to the problems of human life,.

The fragmentation of government awareness mostly triggers dizzying vertigo in the chaos of the peoples’ living standard. The thing is, government can reform peoples’ life and protect the rights of both the poor and the rich.

The scale of the damaged vehicles caused by the contaminated fuel is so huge, but the government did not take the proper action against those companies that imported this filthy fuel. The proper action which our government has not as of yet come up with is to enforce hard and fast rules and impose heavy fines on the petroleum companies and hold them responsible for the damages and compel them to compensate all those citizens whose vehicles were damaged.

Impressing the rich and ignoring the poor is not a good government’s function and vision. A good governnment is that which protects the rights of all citizens; government that distances itself from favoring certain group against another.

When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Good government is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruits in its season, and its leaves do not wither.

The question is ” What one can expect from a government headed by a president who is elected by ignorant people that tribalism teared them into clans.”

By: Jama Falaag

       Hargeisa, Somaliland.