CXC CSEC

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
Principles of Business
Role of Government
Prepared by: Lori-Rae Alleyne-Franklin

These notes are to be used in conjunction with a textbook

and other resources.
Role of Government
• A group of people with the authority to govern a country or
state; a particular ministry in office.

• The government of a country is that group of officials that

manage the affairs of the state on the behalf of its citizens.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Government therefore has a number of functions in order to
cater to the will of the people whom it serves.

• Administration
• Law and Order
• Economy
• Social Services
Administering the country
• This involves seeing to the general state of the economy.

• Ensuring that all sectors of the economy are operating at

peak.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Areas of focus/concerns:
• Cost of living
• Standard of living
• Unemployment
Maintaining law and order & defence
• Law and order must be instituted in the interest
of the state and its citizens.

• Court systems must be maintained.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Police force, army and other justice should be
continuously scrutinized and improved.
• Provision for diplomatic representation and the
discharge of international responsibility.
Maintaining a strong economy
• Careful monitoring of the productive sectors is
important to maintain a strong economy.
• Caribbean countries are mainly primary

Notes prepared by Lori-Rae Alleyne-Franklin

producers, therefore attention should be paid.
• Many governments recognize that the industries
and sectors must be nurtured. It is therefore
necessary that governments and private sectors
provide training, finance, markets and other
resources for the development and maintenance
of certain key industries and sectors of the
economy. If this is not done economic growth
will not occur.
Providing social services & benefits
• Some of these services include:
• Health
• Education
• Transportation systems

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Communication facilities – post office
• Welfare programmes
• Infrastructure – roads, ports etc.

• These services all come at a cost. Taxes

Other areas
Government also through a number of agencies, policies and
programmes also provide for the enhancement of the cultural life
and heritage of its citizens.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
The environment
• Pollution, deforestation and depletion of the
earth is a challenge for all countries.
• Therefore, governments must educate their
people on the need to protect the environment in
which they live.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Through various government ministries and
statutory organisations the governments of the
Caribbean have undertaken to protect and
manage natural resources. This is being done
through, education, laws etc.
World’s environmental problems
• Atmospheric contamination
• Deforestation
• Land degradation
• Species in danger of extinction

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Toxic waste
• Water scarcity
Government activities to
protect the environment
• Legal and institutional framework for environmental
management: - Laws to protect the environment and natural
resources.

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
Community activities to
protect the environment
• Land
• Plant trees rather than cut them down
• Reduce our use of non biodegradable products
• Use and reuse
• Compost instead of burn
• Reduce the use of aerosol cans

Alleyne-Franklin
Notes prepared by Lori-Rae
• Rivers and streams
• Check for underground gas station leaks
• Do not dispose wash water in rivers/ponds/streams
• Do not put garbage in rivers/ponds/streams
• Seas
• Do not buy young fish from vendors
• Obey laws to limit catch and size
• Littering the sea
• Taking sand from beaches
 The End

Notes prepared by Lori-Rae

Alleyne-Franklin