Housing and You…For the love of our country

Nov 09, 2014 News

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By Leonard Gildarie
Every so often, there comes a time in your life where you have to stop and take stock

of the situation. Life, I believe, is about choices. It puts you at the crossroads, where snap decisions have to be made. There are, of course, repercussions for everything we do.
As a journalist with just over a decade of experience in the business, I have long realized that I am but a mere youngster in the media world.  It has always been a joy for me to report to the Guyanese people on breaking stories and other happenings. It is what I know.
The media world makes you tough. It is not an easy thing seeing families torn apart after learning of the sudden, tragic passing of a loved one. I have become immune to such tragedies…It is the only way to survive, to carry on.
What continues to affect me, though, are thoughts of what happens to the many young children whose parents are suddenly gone, leaving them either with families who could barely afford to feed another mouth, or in the care of the state. That has always bothered me.
While the Child Care and Protection Agency has been doing its work, I believe that much more can be done in this area. It would require the release of more resources to address these ‘vulnerables’, lest they fall by the wayside.
Over the last two years we have been examining the many issues of housing in Guyana. While attention has been paid to the finer details of construction, we have not gone much into details about responsibilities. Rather, we would have glossed it over.
Yesterday made one year since my beloved mother left this world. She devoured each housing piece that was published and she was sometimes aghast that I discussed personal details. You see, she was a conservative person by nature. I reassured her on many occasions that it is okay. We are media people and it really does not matter. It is a means of educating our people.
So I come back to the issue of responsibility. Over the years, we have complained bitterly about the state of this dearly loved country of ours.
We are a land that abounds with natural resources. Fishing, gold, fresh foods, our natural beauty – all can be harnessed with tremendous benefits if we are serious about development.
We see examples of many states where resources are scarce or non-existent. But there was a will and strong leadership, and today places like Singapore and Malaysia are leading the world in new thinking.
But like I’ve said before, it will require an attitudinal change. As Guyanese, we will have to dig deep within ourselves and demand that no longer can we tolerate the existing situation. We will have to stop taking it for granted that we have to bribe our police officers when we are stopped on the roadways. Yes, our attitude of fear and resignation that nothing will change is why we are where we are.
We continue to wantonly throw our garbage everywhere, thinking it is the job of the NDCs and Town Councils to fix things. It is everybody else’s responsibility except ours.
No, I humbly submit, we have to change that. We have to demand from our lawmakers and the authorities who police the systems that we deserve so much more; that we are intolerant of corruption; that we will pursue and deal condignly with those caught breaking our laws.
I have my kids in school and I demand that they pass through the public system. Not that I can’t afford private schooling. It just was never in my thoughts that they should not benefit from experiencing what I was fortunate to have had. I wish those days could come back when the teachers just had to glare at you and you know that it is big trouble.
But what exactly are our roles in the country?
I am no lawyer or seasoned analyst or commentator. But I know what I would love for Guyana.
I come back to the Constitution of Guyana…the supreme law of the land. Every citizen is born equal. We have, through our taxes, hired public servants, magistrates, judges, police and the army, and even our politicians, to ensure the system works. In other words, they are our employees.
But as good employers, we must ensure that the working conditions are there also. We must provide the necessary working environment. We cannot demand if we, the people of Guyana, are not doing our part. I know of many Guyanese who yearn to return home to taste the fresh foods, to live the remainder of their days in quietude. But they have nowhere to go.
I would be bold enough to say that Guyana’s development hinges on a collective effort. It is the only way we can move from a developing country to a first class one. We can ill-afford to sit by and say it is our neighbours’ duty. We have to cultivate that intense love relationship with Guyana and protect her like we would for our families, our properties and our businesses.
I have, like so many times before, digressed from housing. But one can quite rightly argue that the issues are inter-related. We have to look at the bigger picture. And it is all for the love of our country…this 83,000 square miles. I again thank the many readers for the emails and calls and words of encouragement. I am indeed humbled.
Please do continue to drop those emails to [email protected] or call weekdays on 225-8491.
May God continue to bless Guyana!

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