Is performance proportionate to power?

By M.H.M. Farook, FCMA (UK), CGMA

Democracy is unfortunately slow but it is steady. Slow and steady wins. Power accumulated in one person and commanding others to produce quick results unfortunately does not percolate down as fast as it is intended. Eventually so many commands have been given and the giver himself is unable to cope, since human limitations apply, however efficient, intelligent and committed he may be. Power and responsibility go together. You cannot hold persons responsible to produce results without sufficient power. 

Human nature resists, taking responsibility to carry out work without sufficient power. Insidious ways are found to show compliance but things do not get done as expected. Over time the giver of orders and the executors become equal to reality because power has a shelf life. Despite accumulated power no commensurate output is achieved. Power needs to be shared.

If work is delegated to a person who has appropriate power and sufficiently motivated, output is remarkable. This method needs immense patience, tact and humility. 

The 1978 Constitution, gave immense power to the then Executive President. What were his achievements during the period he was Executive President. At the feasibility stage of the Mahaweli Project the people were told that, the power generation will meet the full demand of Sri Lanka and sufficient to meet 50% of the power need of India. It was to be implemented over a period of 30 years but telescoped to finish in six years. Eventually it did not even give the total power need of Sri Lanka. 

The author of the 1978 Constitution is supposed to have said that he can do anything with the 1978 constitution except making a woman a man and vice versa. With all that power why did he not make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in at least power and tap water? 

Whereas the Galoya Project implemented under the 1948 constitution, even after 60 years gives us sufficient water for the current Irrigation needs of the whole of Ampara District and part of the Batticaloa District. These two projects were implemented under different constitutions with and without absolute power to the respective heads of state. 

If we go back to history and dispassionately study why dictators failed or what they have achieved has not lasted or it did not benefit the people as envisaged, we will know why absolute power did not produce quick and long lasting results. Who are the leaders who are remembered after several centuries with awe and respect? It is the humane, persuasive leaders who respected human dignity. They achieved long-lasting results and transformational changes.