AS PART of The Gleaner series of Editors' Forums business leadership from several sectors of the economy have discussed their vision for a better Jamaica and how to achieve it, once the election dust has settled. As the Minister of Finance, off the political hustings in a moment of sober reflection and candour has told the nation, tough times are ahead no matter who wins the election.

We have published, mainly in the Financial Gleaner, the substance of the Forum in which the leaders of enterprise discussed the issues the next Administration should give priority attention to in order to accelerate economic growth and create a better society. It is the idea of and the need for the greater hands-on engagement of civil society, in all its various manifestations, with the process of governance that is the subject of comment today.

Governance is too important to be left to the governors. Between the five-yearly ritual of electing a Government there is great need for the informed engagement of the Government by the governed. We have developed a national habit of disruptive street protests and roadblocks to push the Government into overdue action over issues which people feel they can no longer bear. The Prime Minister described the 1999 gas tax riots as a "wake-up call" and declared that the voice of the people was heard by a Government willing to learn.

It is preferable if the Government never goes to sleep and then have to face rude awakenings. Strong democracies have developed a system of public policy think-thanks and lobby groups to bring the concerns of civil society to the attention of Government and into active engagement with the political process. The business leaders have suggested a strengthening of the PSOJ as the main lobby group of the country to influence the next Administration into implementing policies and programmes that would control crime and reduce other underlying problems stifling the achievement of economic growth and social well-being.

PSOJ founding president, Carlton Alexander, we believe, would concur, for his vision was of an umbrella private sector organisation that could help lead the transformation of Jamaica. There is room for many such think-thanks/lobby groups. This dynamic engagement of Government and civil society will cost far less than not having it at all.

THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.