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The shame and disgrace of a citizen of Guyana

Dec 25, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
My visit to Georgetown, the capital city of this country, on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, was absolutely horrible. The scene, upon entering the city proper, was chaotic to say the least. I spent nearly one hour in a vehicle caught up in what seemed to be a never-ending traffic jam.
Rains pounded the city, which forced many persons (from across Guyana) engaged in Christmas shopping, to walk in the nasty, stinking, disease-filled waters, since the roads were becoming flooded. Garbage was seen all over as a result.
Nobody seemed to be paying attention to traffic lights, which resulted in more chaos on the streets, since everyone seemed to be in a hurry. Horns were blaring from frustrated drivers who just wanted clearance to drive, but could not since minibus operators were holding up traffic due to them stopping frequently to put off and let in passengers; the greed of the season.
Persons walking with umbrellas had the water from their means of shelter dripping on other road users, and were constantly being abused by certain persons sitting along the pavements. The police were not out since the rain kept pouring, but should this have prevented them? I must ask.
You would not see Georgetown like this on any post card or Facebook page promoting this dear ‘Garden City.’ What I witnessed (and what is the norm I am sure all through the year) is the shame and disgrace of a corrupt, lawless, dirty, filthy, decrepit, mismanaged city where surprisingly the Government of Guyana is seated; where the Parliament of Guyana is seated.
How can we attract tourists in this situation where Mayor and City Council, police and government seem not to be coordinating with each other on pertinent issues to move the city forward? How can Georgetown get any better when the Hydromet office does not warn citizens to stay in their homes rather than endure this suffering, before these incredible downpours?
I watched in disbelief at the suffering of persons who were forced to navigate through the flooded city streets, with water filling their footwear, but having no other choice, since suffering has become a daily norm for many of us living in Guyana.
The city lacks vision for a plan that would improve the old flooding situation. But that’s the least of its problems. Before my eyes was the shame and disgrace of a citizen of Guyana who is constantly told that he is living in a developing country, but shares in a horrible experience, nothing short of what exists in a poor, needy, stinking, lawless city or nation.
Leon Suseran

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