We are increasingly becoming complacent

May 22, 2011 Features / Columnists, My Column

---

By Adam Harris

Many people adopt a complacent attitude when things that do not necessarily affect their lives come into play. For example, the Guyana Elections Commission is complaining that people are not uplifting their identification cards.
Indeed, people went to great lengths to get registered during the house-to-house registration process because they were told that they needed a new identification card if they were going to conduct business in the future. At the same time they were told that the voters’ list was going to be accurate so that there would be no more talk about padded voters’ lists and electoral rigging.
It seems as if people are not too keen on any election. Instead, they say that their primary interest is to put food on their table.  Most say that their earnings do not afford them the chance to live as they would wish.
The result is that almost every woman has joined the labour force. They are the security guards, working in a preserve that was once male dominated. Able-bodied men have moved away because the pay is not encouraging. And indeed the people who head the guard services pay the basic wage. They exploit the workers. The result is that they get middle-aged women and old men.
Then there are the numerous constructions going on in various parts of the country. Undoubtedly, there is a housing boom. Building contractors, however, say that they cannot get enough labourers.  The reason is that many young men now do not see the need to work. The result is that many of them gravitate to crime, with a focus on robberies.
I have repeatedly said that this state of affairs is due to the decline in the education system. Values have been discarded. Parents are not too concerned about the future of their children. Even if they are, they seem to have a lack of parenting skills.  And this brings us to the crucial issue—the issue of complacency.
A fortnight ago, the people who are going to be directing the construction of the hydroelectric project hosted two forums to involve the people, all of whom will be the beneficiaries. The forum at Linden attracted a handful and the one in the city was not much better attended.
The media have been talking about this project, from the time the government awarded the road contract to a man who has no known experience in road construction. The contention was that the government was wasting money and that the people needed to demonstrate some interest in how their money was being spent.
In the long run, they are the ones who would have to repay the money. Right now they are complaining about the high taxation and about the payment of value added tax. If they feel that they are paying too much now, and are unable to get enough money to live as they would wish, then they certainly are doing nothing about their future.
It is this complacency that is most worrying. The more intelligent in the society are aware that if they are to control better pay, then they have to curtail national waste. Already many of them try to hide their true earnings from the tax man. They know that they are paying more tax than many in the world. One-third of their taxable earnings go back to the government.
And if that is not bad enough, they have to contend with a VAT of sixteen per cent. They are the ones who worry when they see projects that they believe cost much less, going for millions of dollars. They know that their tax dollars are going to feather the nest of some others.
That is why they are questioning the expenditure on the hydro project. One accountant says that the government needs to account for US$200 million. It is not that they are pointing fingers at anyone. Rather, they are thinking about their pocket. They know that money is being borrowed and they know that where there is borrowing there must be interest payment. Interest over twenty years could be a hefty sum.
But why are so many people complacent? Some believe that the reason is that more often than not, they would get a small pay increase at special times. They also know that if they stay under the radar then they cannot be subjected to what some of them claim is harassment.
I know many, though, who seek out the media to complain about things that bother them. They then say that they do not wish to be identified for fear of victimisation. The reporter could also face victimisation. Further, there is the risk that the newspaper could be accused of peddling untruths and that is a fashionable statement these days.
On many occasions the people making the complaint would deny making the complaint if the finger is pointed at them. Such is the nature of the situation, and therein lies the reason for the complacency. In fact, it may not be that people are complacent, just scared to stand up for what they believe.
But in my book, the more the people remain scared the more will be the number of things that would affect them. Then there would be the media reports and the continued increase in hostility on the part of the government toward the media.
There are more spin-offs, all negative. Some people simply try to drink their problems away. If they are drivers then they would pose a danger to others on the roadways at that time. Early yesterday morning there were some horrible smash-ups. It was as if people do not have enough expense. At least three would have to find new vehicles.

---

---