Law for the common man is conveniently inconvenient

May 30, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I would like to take up a few lines in your newspaper to share with the general public an incident that has really put a huge hole in the confidence I feel in the ability of the common man in Guyana to be protected and served by the law, and also to question the mental health of some so called drivers in our lovely land.
On Saturday May 28th 2011 at approximately 2:00pm, I left my residence to purchase two bottles of cooking gas. My uncle came to pick me up in his van, but had to park one residence away owing to an inconsiderate vehicle owner parking a very large and expensive SUV plumb in front of my driveway. Fortunately I am a fit young man, as dodging through the soggy grass with two 20-pound cylinders just to get out of my yard in peace is no mean feat.
Anyway, we came back from our purchase at approximately 2:25pm, only to find the vehicle still smugly ‘asleep’ in front of my entrance.
Naturally, after repeating the acrobatics with the now full gas bottles to re-enter my compound, I was not in a very sunny mood. So after directing a few choice expletives at the cherry tree in my yard (poor plant), I called the police traffic department for assistance.
First number I called got me on to Brickdam Station, and I spoke to a very pleasant constable Ross, who very politely took my complaint and said that she would send some assistance. She however hastened to inform me that due to the big ‘Feminition’ event at the National Stadium, they were thin on human resources in Georgetown, but she would still do her best for me.
Appreciatively, I hung up, and armed with my cellular phone I began a vigil at the window to look out for the police/apparently brain dead owner of the vehicle.
Almost 15 minutes passed, and still no officer/tow truck, so I called again. Constable Ross again spoke to me and reminded me that she was doing her best, but explained that they were still short of officers to send. I was understanding, and asked her since her station was short manned if she could give me a number to call Police Headquarters Eve Leary, which happens to be closer to my home anyway.
She obliged, and I called and spoke to an officer Walcott, who promptly took my complaint again and advised me that help is on the way. So beginneth Window Vigil part two.
Another 15 minutes passed, and still no sign of the police. I called back Eve Leary, and after reminding the officer that I was still waiting on help, was gruffly told that “the man already left tuh come dere” and was acknowledging this when the phone was hung up on me.
Twenty minutes passed this time, and no help. Frustrated, I called again, only this time the phone rang once, was picked up and I was greeted by silence (the kind of toneless, empty silence that you hear when someone presses the mute button at the other end).
Determined to get help or die trying, I rang again. This time after a few rings a different officer answered the phone. After going through my story all over again, he directed me to call Brickdam since according to him ‘they gat the tow truck’.
I politely and firmly informed him that Brickdam gave me his station’s number, and I would really just appreciate if they could send a traffic rank around to warn or charge the owner of the obstructing vehicle and speak to the owner of the business (I had previously written two letters two years ago about similar occurrences to the SN, which were published). The rank then told me that he was going to send someone (again) took the directions to my house (again) and rang off.
It is now almost two hours since I first rang for help, and I have seen neither hair nor hide of a police officer. Worst yet, my driveway is still blocked. Ironically, I wanted to get out of my yard so I could have accompanied a good female friend to the ‘Feminition’ show that has apparently deprived Georgetown of traffic officers, but alas, I cannot get out of my yard.
I am sickened by this apparent lack of coordination by the police, and given my experience so far, am not too keen to call for help again. I am also appalled that some drivers are still so inconsiderate that they choose to inconvenience innocent citizens in pursuit of their own agendas. I would recommend that they all watch the movie “Law Abiding Citizen” with Gerhard Butler and Jamie Foxx, and appreciate the message therein.
I am quite sure that if in my abject frustration, I had taken matters into my own hands and attempted to restructure the vehicle’s exterior with a baseball bat, the police would be on the spot in minutes to whisk me off to jail. Mr. Editor, I am sick of these idiot fuelled incidents, and would like to remind all drivers out there to be considerate, and not block up people’s entrances. Secondly, I would like to join hundreds of others who are trying to wake the police up so they can serve and protect us.
Regardless of how many shows being held elsewhere, you still need to cater for the common citizenry, and ensure that sufficient resources are available to undertake routine police work. Is that too much to ask of Mr. Rohee and Mr. Greene, and all the other security top brass?
My final comment is for the owner of the well established business opposite my house, who I am sure, will get wind of this letter one way or another. Please madam, everytime you look at the ‘No Parking’ sign painted in bold, white letters on your driveway, remember that others in the neighbourhood also enjoy the same right to free ingress and egress from their property.
If you cannot accommodate your customers without transgressing on other people’s rights, maybe it is time for you to seek a more business oriented area for your operations. You can’t be taking money to attempt to make people beautiful, while forcing others to endure an annoying, illegal and ugly practice by your customers.
M. A. Hassan

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