Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 31, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
Everyday I scream inside in frustration and with a sense of hopelessness which envelopes me. Are we lost? Lost all sense of honour, decency and social graces? Lost all sense of personal pride? Editor, just jump into any taxi, minibus or your personal vehicle and take a drive in and around Georgetown or any major hub in Guyana. The anti-social conduct and behaviour of our people is evident, from the excessive use of horns, the incessant indecent language, lack of respect for each other, flagrant violations of road rules and laws, and the list goes on and on.
I have no explanation for Guyanese people’s attitudes. I am Guyanese, and I am publicly declaring that I am ashamed to be, at times. And, it is not to say this conversation has never occurred. I have read countless letters to the editor, which is, in my mind, a reflection of the pulse of society. We, the civic minded amongst us, recognise this scourge, but recognition changes nothing. I am at a loss suggesting a way forward to make things better, to transform ourselves into a more socially conscious and acceptable citizen.
How can we change the perception of that lady when sweeping out the front of her business place, happens upon a large plastic bottle which she promptly picks up and discards in the drain in front of her premises. How can we change the perception of that bus driver, who times the traffic light countdown to perfection by slowly rolling on the outside turning lane? He then suddenly accelerates on green, charging straight on. He then cuts in front of others, narrowly missing the vehicle at the head of the line in the correct lane. Then suddenly stopping over the corner, blocking the entire volume of traffic, trapping some within the junction as the lights change red again? How do we change the attitudes of drivers, so that they eventually understand that driving and sailing are two completely different concepts, that lane driving is the right thing to do, whilst changing lanes, when safe, must be signaled?
My grievance appears to be mostly traffic oriented, because it is the most apparent and readily experienced occurrence. However, in all aspects of our society, in our leadership, in our blind allegiance to our political masters we lose ourselves to their entreaties. I read recently about the ‘final’ offer by the Government to our public servants, with a structured percentage increase scheme proposed. Let us forget about the percentages proposed, and reflect on the message sent. Is it that the public servant on the higher salary scales, not deserving of an increase, consistent with their own level of achievement, because of their personal development in educating themselves and sticking it out in the public service in the hope of a more deserving salary?
Is the proposed structured percentage scheme a reflection that the country is unable to sustain across the board increases to all? If the latter, where did the State find the money to have the Jubilee party celebrations which I read somewhere cost hundreds of millions of dollars? Where did the State find the money to build a totally unnecessary Jubilee stadium again costing tens of millions of dollars? Could the State not celebrate on a less grand scale consistent with our finances?
And then the very vexed question which has certainly lost its public voice, where did the State find the money to increase the ministers’ salaries by 50% retroactive to taking office, not forgetting the increases to salaries of Members of Parliament (including the Opposition)? That 50% was taken in spite of the fact that they do not have to pay light bill, telephone bill and water bill, which paralyses most public servants. Was the IMF consulted before these increases were implemented?
And then the Opposition with their ‘holier than thou’ attitudes, forgetting the years of their perceived abuse of public resources and positions, echoing condemnatory statements, true to ‘pot calling the kettle black’ form. However, it should not excuse current conduct, or be the standard at which the current Government be measured. The Government should be held accountable to the people at all times, and not because the current opposition did certain things when they were in power, excuses the occurrence of those things in this Government. I am fed up with the excuse that the Government is new and there will be a period of growing pains. Take two panadol and bear up! You campaigned that you had the capacity to do the job. There is no probationary period. We are stuck with you!
Editor, I find this whole scenario sickening, which brings me to the maintenance of the city environs. I observe that some of the alleyways, trenches, gutters and parapets which were cleared at significant expense to the State are now refilled with the plastic bottles and garbage, the bushy overgrowth has returned, consistent with the theme of maintaining a green city, literally. Clearly the euphoria of ‘change’ which motivated an attitudinal adjustment to clean up after themselves is out of style. Notwithstanding, and I always ask, what prevents each citizen of taking care of his immediate environment, to not indiscriminately throw their garbage everywhere except in bins? Nothing but a displaced sense of what it means to be Guyanese and that there are no consequences for anti-social behaviour.
Rama Bhajan-Singh
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