Guyana deserves some space in the Guinness Book of World records

May 16, 2011 News

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By Michael Benjamin
It’s a tough job but someone has to do it even if for the sake of posterity!
It was with this objective that I became engaged in deep research, vigorously attempting to ascertain the criteria for an exclusive spot in the Guinness Book of World Records to highlight Guyana’s eco-tourism.
This country once enjoyed world acclaim after the infamous Jonestown mass murder/suicide. We deserve more than that! This country deserves at least two column inches in that august publication so that we could advertise our diversity and eco tourism, thus erasing the Jonestown misfortune.
It is, however, apparent that the relevant authorities are disinterested in such acclaim so I have to take the initiative and do it on my own.
Really, there is so much happening in this country that should have made it into the Guinness Book that it boggles the mind that we are still to launch unto the international scene with flair and fantasy. Countries around the world have staked a claim in the Guinness Book of World Records even though their record breaking material pales in comparison to our eco tourism.
Admittedly, the 20th century has provided spectacular advances in design, engineering, and construction which have allowed humanity to create an array of monumental structures.
And from these, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), with help from experts around the world, selected several wonders that today are regarded as the world’s greatest.
These edifices include the Empire State building, the Itaipu Dam, the CN Tower in Canada, the Panama Canal, the Channel Tunnel, the North Sea Protection Works, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
These wonders embody an abundance of human ingenuity, thus showcasing humankind’s ability to dream, plan, and achieve on a colossal, mind-boggling scale. Yet, Guyana’s ‘wonders’ would make these others appear minuscule and insignificant.
And so I engaged some ingenuity and coupled with nationalistic verve, decided to take a hike around the country in search of material that could possibly be categorised as a wonder and thus break into the Guinness Book of World records.
I had barely exited my door when I was greeted by the first of such sights. You see, I live a stone’s throw away from the Cemetery Road Dump site. No, I did not mistake the name. You see, when the dumping of solid waste in that area began, one could safely have called it the Mandela Dumpsite.
Alas, activities have long since progressed from the eastern to the western end, thus the rechristening to the Cemetery Road Dump site.
The situation has become so shameful and out of hand that some people have experienced difficulties finding the tombs of their loved ones. They are quite sure that the tombs are there but are unable to access them because the mounds of rubbish that have buried the structures that contain their buried dead.
The unsightly, smelly mound affected immediate residents in North East La Penitence, Meadow Brook, Lodge and other immediate areas, yet it took the efforts of Mark Benschop and Freddy Kissoon to create the type of stir that forced administrators to re-site the dreaded (and dreadful) Cemetery Road dump site to a more suitable area, over on the West Coast and miles away from human habitation.
I was almost tempted to divert the angle of my research to ascertain when, where, why and how the problem started. About fifteen years ago, I remember standing helplessly by while city officials decided to convert the playfield aback of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School into a dumpsite.
I taught at that school shortly after that dumpsite was inaugurated and marveled at the dexterity and ambidextrousness of the students of my class. They had somehow perfected the art of blocking their noses with one hand while taking notes with the other and simultaneously swatting the annoying flies that managed to vacate the dumpsite for a five minute retreat in the classrooms.
The explanation, then, was that the dumpsite became necessary since the land was sinking and the current activities were meant to build it higher. The students were told that shortly after activities would have ceased that they would be afforded a spanking, much improved playfield.
It was a worthwhile sacrifice so the students tolerated the smelly fly-infested classrooms while hoping. Today, more than a decade later, expectancy is still low; the area is transformed into a jungle in the middle of the city and the children are probably singing the Otis Redding tune, ‘I’ve got dreams to remember.’
At that time also, I served as the Public Relations Officer on the Old Students’ Association. We dispatched a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting to be considered for inclusion on the PEIP, now the BEAMS programme (where certain schools were identified and prioritised for rehabilitation works).
The Ministry dispatched an official to examine the situation and submit a report on the state of affairs. The official complied and soon afterwards officials of the Ministry dispatched a subsequent correspondence denying the request, exhorting that the school was in ship shape.
In his report to the committee, the acting headmaster had said, “The Ministry said that the school is in ship shape.” A first former overheard the statement and incredulously asked, “Sir are you sure that the man said SHIP?”
It seems as though the M&CC is devoid of proper garbage trucks to collect and dispose of solid waste so naturally they are forced to pay contractors. With little money in the kitty, City officials are beseeching the government to broaden the financial base.
They are pleading for the enactment of a Municipal Court; they are appealing to Government to liquidate the huge expenses they owe to the council. Their appeals are falling on deaf ears so naturally there is a paucity of funds.
The contractors cannot be paid since City Hall is broke. The former group is unable to pay its workers because they are not paid for their services. They take a hard line and cease garbage collection.
The concomitant result is a dangerous pile up of garbage that threatens a major outbreak of disease. No one appears to care. What is important here is not the citizen’s welfare but a show of might. Piles of garbage on Regent Street and other parts of the city can easily be photographed and submitted to officials of the Guinness Book of World Records so that this country enjoys its moment in the sun.
Amidst it all two senior officials are jostling for the seat of Town Clerk while the councillors remain divided of who should occupy the seat. The concomitant tussle has emitted a putrid scent, matched only by the stench of garbage lying unattended in major parts of the garbage …. I mean Garden City.
Someone has to take action; something has to give; life cannot go on like this. Luckily, something beneficial can still be salvaged from all this mess, pardon the pun. I am on the verge of submitting a photograph and relevant documents to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Guyana may be on the verge of historical acclamation and nothing—I mean nothing, must deny us our moment in the sun.

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