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GPL not planning to spread any Christmas cheer

Dec 22, 2013 Letters

 

Dear Editor,
Christmas is a standing offence to the idea of economic and social rationality. The entire population launches on an orgy of over-eating, gift-giving, card-sending and party-throwing, abandoning any rational thought of where the money will come from or how best to prioritize expenditure.
As though to kick us back to reality we are boldly reminded in the dailies that GPL will not be partying with us or indulge in the gift-giving mania. Instead, like spoilt brats they will put out our fairy lights and plunge Santa into darkness as he slides down the chimney if we don’t put aside and settle our outstanding balances. Here is one utility giant that is not trying to earn goodwill or spread any form of Christmas cheer.
The GPL disconnection notices in the form of half page ads couldat least have been designed in colour to show holly on the borders with red candles, crimson cherries and even a reindeer or two scampering across the ad in a mad rush to deliver gifts of darkness and defrigeration guaranteed to spoil our seasonal goodies. We can only hope that to preserve the Christmas spirit in true Guyanese style, the disconnection crews will be wearing Father Christmas outfits and arrive noisily so that they alert our dogs and cutlass-wielding watchmen. This writer strongly  recommends that disconnection crews operating in some of the livelier inner-city communities arm themselves with pepper spray, stun guns or CS gas devices if these are allowed. Mind you, some rottweilers have been trained to withstand gas attacks and how to connect with disconnectors. In my lower East Coast community, GPL
Santas disconnect several times every night and frequently during the day. Sometimes the outages last for a few minutes only. My fairy lights flicker all through the night not because they’re designed that way but because of GPL tinkering with the electricity supply. But gifting and the economy of regard should intrude well beyond GPL. Government must become that Santa Claus employer, gifting its workers job security and higher than a mere 5% increase. Their employees will reciprocate by gifting higher morale, productivity and commitment and by lowering lateness and absenteeism.
The economy of regard is the essential glue of both a well-performing government and the good society. This is understood, if only subliminally, by every Guyanese. It is why there is growing skepticism at the blind way the government is managing the nation’s affairs- from secret, sweetheart deals conceived under mistletoe, to allowing our capital city to sink under Christmas rubbish , to gifting Brazilian interests a huge chunk of territory on our southern flank. It would seem that reciprocity, trust and giving without being asked underpin government’s philosophy but only for the lucky few. I advise them to give generously this season as the Christmas party may end abruptly in 2014.
We have all been playing our part in the economy of regard—the givers, the takers and the candle stick makers—so don’t get angry at those credit card bills and bounced cheques as you survey the financial ruin of another Christmas. Your lack of certainty in what 2014 will bring is part of the human condition but rest assured we do know that: the rich will get richer some beyond their wildest dreams, the poor will spend beyond their means and pray to God in their darkened rooms while chunks of Guyana will be sold off to friends and family. But for the time being get ready for the disconnection crews. Feed your dogs early on Christmas eve then let them loose until year end.
F. Hamley Case

 

 

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