Civilization in Guyana is deeply disturbing

Apr 12, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

One of the most sickening feelings that ever came over me in my entire life occurred last week in Guyana. And trust me, I have seen deeply disturbing aspects of human nature. I was once caught in the middle of a war with the American invasion of Grenada and saw dead bodies literally yards away from where I lived.
I have absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever Homo sapiens are inherently flawed. But I cling to the faith of human redemption tenaciously. I guess Jean-Paul Sartre would say what else have we got to believe in. But no matter how optimistic we are about the Human Condition, there are times the angst permeates your psyche and you are left devoid of hope.
I read in the newspaper where one of the Caribbean’s richest families, right here in Guyana, bought a certain business operation for twenty-five million American dollars. That would be about five billion, 50 million Guyana dollars. This is a small family that is luxuriating in wealth.
It was reported in a letter in the media about the way this wealthy family treats workers. The employees have to pay for the toilet paper and hand-sanitizer that are used in the washrooms in their business place. I made mention of this horrible practice twice in my columns and not one member from the government side or the opposition or the trade union movement or civil society even attempted a half comment much less a condemnation.
The vendors of Bourda Market complained to me of what a cheap devil two of the members of this rich family are. She and her sister would question the price of everything they want to buy. It is an experience beyond imagination to see how these two cheap creatures haggle over the price of fruits and vegetables.
One day I was lucky to arrive at one of the stands just after one of the sisters left. The lady vendor was all in a rage about how she kept insisting on a reduction. The poor seller said to me, “Mr. Kissoon, we don’t make anything on these fruits.”
In 2006 when I was building my home, I didn’t know which dimension of screws I had to get for a particular job on the interior of the construction. My wife’s cousin was directing the operation but he was a full-time manager at the Hotel Tower, so he was not always around. I went to the store of this family and asked to have two different types of screws. Fortunately the head man of this family was at the counter.
I told him I was just hopping over to the Hotel Tower to show my cousin the two screws so he can select the right one. Brace yourself for how disturbed is civilization in Guyana. He agreed for me to take the two screws and return, but he said I must leave twenty dollars with him. Each screw was worth about one dollar. I gave him a hundred dollar bill.
I guess it was his right to insist that I could not take two screws from his place. I guess the two sisters have a right to haggle over the prices they pay the vendors. But trade union laws require employers to provide a hospitable working environment. I haven’t done the research, but I believe it is a nasty trade human violation for employers to coerce workers to pay for soap and toilet paper for use on the premises.
Many times I would see the patriarch of the family on the seawall and when we get close to each other, I would turn my face. Just as it is his right to refuse to loan me two screws, it is my right to determine which human being I find to be guilty of living a flawed life.
The trouble with this country is how lost it has become. It is as if civilization no longer exists in this place. Not one voice was ever raised about this toilet paper scandal. That would not occur in any other country. Not one of my friends called me to mount a picket against this family business. I am still at a loss to understand how unconcerned were the leaders of our trade union movement over this violation.
So this family just bought a business operation for twenty-five million American dollars but the workers in their business place have to pay for the toilet paper they use in the store. And we Guyanese will continue to patronize that retail trade of this family. Really, what kind of Homo sapiens occupy a piece of land on Planet Earth called Guyana.

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