Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 18, 2017 Features / Columnists, News
By Leonard Gildarie
As I get older, my level of diplomacy has reduced considerably. I am a little more blunt now, as
the days of toil are long and there is simply not enough time to stop and chat. I have been getting into trouble, of course, as not many like it when you say it as it is. But I would have it no other way.
On Thursday, I was heading downtown to do some business for one of my relatives at Camp Ayanganna, headquarters of the army. At the Eccles traffic lights, on the East Bank of Demerara, a green pickup suddenly appeared from nowhere, undertaking me. Unfortunately, a minibus had stopped right in front of him at the junction. It was an army vehicle.
In a hurry, the pickup suddenly started to turn in my lane. I stopped, sent down my window and asked him if the pickup is his. He seemed shocked then sheepish. He waved me to go. There was a soldier in the tray. I could not help but think how dangerous it is for persons to be sitting in trays of pickups.
The pickup passed me and headed through the Houston bypass.
About one hour later, I was in Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, with a family member. We were there to collect a document for a relative. At the guard hut, the female soldier was extremely helpful. She pointed to the department. The other soldiers at the gate were alert, friendly and respectful.
We proceeded to the General Personnel Office. Downstairs, there were a number of persons, some sitting. Before a minute passed, a man, not older than 25, dressed in civilian clothing, enquired if we were getting through. He was extremely pleasant. He led us upstairs, rushed to bring two chairs, and begged us to wait a few minutes. Sure enough, within five minutes, we were ushered into a room and three smiling soldiers quickly took the information. We were out in five. It was a bewildering experience.
It is hard to experience that kind of service locally. I have been around, to restaurants, police stations, government offices. You get the feeling that workers are being forced to be nice.
The Camp Ayanganna experience, with its well-manicured lawns, affected me so much that I went back to the office and told my colleagues.
I am not sure if the army has always been this friendly, but there was none of that impersonal, cold, detached service that we seem to be experiencing everywhere else in Guyana.
I speak of the two incidents as there were questions this past week about the presence of the army in Kaieteur National Park.
The area has been designated as a protected one, and as such, no commercial activities like forestry and mining should be taking place there.
During an operation lasting two weeks, the Joint Services said it had discovered 26 dredges in the park, which is home to the world famous, Kaieteur Falls.
The army insisted that it has the constitutional powers to maintain law and order and guard against illegality. I agree.
Now, I am mindful about the need for persons to be making a living. We cannot look at the law and say yes, we have to ensure that it is followed to the letter.
There are communities in the hinterland which for years have been at the mercy of mines officers, large miners and even loggers. There has been little understanding about how these Amerindian communities operate…how the people make ends meet.
Many of them would tell you stories of sweet-talking politicians who comes with gifts and promises during elections time then disappear and become unavailable after.
This administration, and any others that follow, will have to start learning how much of an uphill task it is deal with some of the communities in the hinterland, where some of the people barely speak English.
As a country striving to become a first world one, our saving grace will be our ability to adhere to improved laws and a different way of life.
With regards to the army presence in the park, it was pointed out that the operation to weed out illegal mining in the area was a Joint Services one, meaning that police would have been present too.
I have always said it. There is a role for the army in the development of this country. For a long time, there was little information about the operations of the army. We were training new soldiers, with some bad eggs ending up in crime. But there seems to be a spring in the step of the army now. I am not sure what is happening. But it appears good.
We have roads in the interior. We have vast, unpatrolled lands. With Venezuela next door facing turmoil and a border that is porous, we have to guard against a situation which could quickly become uncontrollable.
I am not saying we shut our borders to our neighbours who a short while ago opened their homes and resources to us.
The army has an integral role to play. We need them on board to help us move this country forward. We have limited resources. Let us find ways to make the little that we have now, work for us.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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