Latest update March 23rd, 2025 9:41 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

PROFITING FROM MISFORTUNE

Sep 21, 2008 Editorial

We believe that certain things must be said, however discomforting they may prove. We believe that Guyana is a beautiful place to live in, with citizens who know how to be their brother’s keepers.

However, there are times when the exception occurs. When this happens, it is the duty of any national newspaper to stand up and denounce that which is wrong and inhuman. We make no apologies for doing this in the past, now, or in the future.

On Thursday last, a truck transporting in excess of $2M worth of sugar overturned on the public road at Goed Fortuin.

Despite the fact that this was an accident which would no doubt have resulted in losses for the owner of the truck and the owner of the sugar, large numbers of members of the public proceeded to help themselves to large quantities of the sugar that had spilled out of the bins of the truck as well as a fair portion of that remaining in the bins.

For the truck owner this was adding injury to misfortune. Having to deal with the distressing fact that his truck had overturned, he also faced the pillaging of sugar not by a few persons but by dozens of residents.

Pictures and images of these persons helping themselves to free sugar were displayed in our daily newspapers and no doubt on television.

Yet it is unlikely that any of those involved in helping themselves would ever be charged and brought before the courts. This, as far as our law enforcement agency is concerned, will be yet another one of those incidents which does not require even a bat of an eyelid.

It must be again asked to what depth is our country descending when large numbers of ordinary citizens would add to the misfortune of a fellow human being by helping themselves to his sugar.

It must be questioned as to just what sort of societal values are we entrenching when instead of helping a fellow human being to reduce his losses, large number of persons saw an opportunity to profit from the man’s misfortune.

One would have expected that these persons would have out of concern for the losses suffered by the owner, tried to help to prevent more sugar from spilling out, and retrieve that which could be retrieved.

Instead, in a most selfish and unbecoming display, a great many members of the public helped themselves to the contents of the man’s truck.

This response is inexcusable. It is not the type of conduct that is conducive to development. How can Guyana hope to develop rapidly into a modern but ordered state, one in which citizens exercise a higher degree of civic values, when we are faced with such selfish behaviour?

It is not the sort of behaviour which we have come to associate with Guyanese, who have always been willing to help those in distress rather than further depriving persons of their property.

We had long acquired the reputation of being a compassionate people who were always willing to lend a helping hand to those experiencing misfortune and loss.

We hope that those last Thursday who benefited at the expense of another human being would find it in their hearts to regret their actions.

We hope that serious consideration would be given to reassessing what took place so that better examples can be set for our children and their children.

Equally disturbing was the inadequate and indifferent response shown by members of the Guyana Police Force. We find it incomprehensible that despite calling the police station, mere minutes away for assistance, the owner of the truck was unable to gain the support of the law enforcement arm of the State. Even more troubling was the fact that a police car passed by without stopping.

As a nation we need to be sure as to that example. Our ancestors had left us with enduring values, one of which was the refusal to covet that which is not ours, to help those in distress and to reach out and help those in need. The pillaging of that sugar truck represented an act of retrogression from those values.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Reliance Hustlers delighted for Youth Programme support from First Lady

Reliance Hustlers delighted for Youth Programme support from First...

Mar 23, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- President of Reliance Hustlers Sports Club Trevis Simon has expressed delight for the support of the Youth Programme from First Lady Arya Ali under her National Beautification...
Read More
Relentless Chase demoralize West Dem’ to remain unbeaten

Relentless Chase demoralize West Dem’ to remain...

Mar 23, 2025

AAG makes history with US$300K Adidas sponsorship deal

AAG makes history with US$300K Adidas sponsorship...

Mar 23, 2025

Historic NSC sponsored GGA 2nd Annual National Long Drive Championships set for March 29

Historic NSC sponsored GGA 2nd Annual National...

Mar 23, 2025

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA...

Mar 22, 2025

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action today

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Mar 22, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]