Clive Bibby: Common Sense, Trust and Vision

Leadership that actually benefits the people of any country is almost always the result of a visionary approach to the problems faced - either those that are self-inflicted by previous governments or ones that are the result of extreme climatic variations over which there is little control.

Here at home down in this safe haven at the bottom of the South Pacific, we are fortunate that our leadership, with only a couple of exceptions, has for the most part, acted responsibly in the decisions they have made that affect us all.

Although, there is an argument to be made that too often out governments have been rather too timid in their management of the economy resulting in missed opportunities that has meant slower growth than what we might have expected.

That said, our current status relative to our competitors, could have been a whole lot worse.

However, any assessment of what might have been should always include the factors that could have made things so much better.

From my perspective, having spent most of the last 46 years involved in project leadership - low decile communities such as ours have no choice but to follow instincts based on local knowledge of what works and what doesn’t.

The successful projects are invariable those that are structured on common sense, trust and vision - perhaps, unsurprisingly, money has little to do with it.

In all the projects I have led over the last 40 years, I have managed to secure the millions involved by simply designing development plans that are visionary and as such, appeal to funders but are dependent on the element of trust that we will deliver what we promised - as much as possible on time and within budget.

One might think that undertaking is a fools dream but ironically, that type of consideration is exactly the reason why most large community funded projects fail.

The funders are too frightened of their own inability to raise the money and consequently will only sign a contract that guarantees their fundraising fee irrespective of their success on the stump.

And that lack of vision and confidence in one’s own ability is the same reason why most politicians also fail to lead by example with the resulting slow progress extricating ourselves from the shackles of our moribund existence.

However, I am encouraged by recent Government negotiations with some potentially large trading partners who may also be capable of providing much needed economic security based on military deterrents to those who would do us harm.

We will always be a small player in defence and economic alliances, but our reliability has always been one of our greatest strengths.

These days when it is difficult to know who we can trust, our future survival will be determined as much as anything, on delivering on our promises.

Unfortunately, in the modern world, that characteristic is becoming a scarce commodity but those who can provide it are quickly valued above their punching weight.

Trade deals that allow us to grow economically and develop in a manner that benefits every citizen are not the result of chance.

They must be managed by those who promote a vision that excites those who are going to fund it.

We can’t do it on our own, but we have all the right credentials for ensuring other wealthy partners will be happy to join us.

Food for thought.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.