A new year, old issues

Jan 03, 2016 Features / Columnists, My Column

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By Adam Harris

The simple things are what add spice to life. The year just past was heading to a close; there was a huge crowd buildup across from the 1763 Monument. I have seen crowds at that venue for political meetings but never have I seen such a crowd. Driving in that vicinity was a nightmare; only the presence of the police helped some to get out of the jam.
And it was a jam. Young people, especially, who could not afford the exorbitant prices to party in the sophisticated night clubs, partied in the streets at no cost. This was akin to New Yorkers gathering in Times Square to watch the ball drop on the stroke of midnight. Simple, but enjoyable.
At the other end of the city another crowd had gathered outside Camp Ayanganna. They too had simple but enjoyable fun, because many at the end of the display ended on the seawalls. The enterprising had set up food and drink stalls.
So it was that the New Year dawned for many who could not be bothered with the clubs.
I headed to the home of a relative on the East Coast. Plaisance was no different. There was a huge crowd of young people on the ‘line top’. Mr Bumbury was one happy man, and so too were his neighbours who would have not been there had Robeson Benn had his way some time back.
But there was no such joy in other locations. The sun had just come up when news came that the police were hunting a man who killed somebody.
I immediately told myself that the year might have changed, but people remained just as ruthless and uncompromising. The year was barely two days old when there were three murders.
I remembered Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud saying that people had lost skills at conflict resolution. My mind slipped back to some other columns I had written. I tend to be pessimistic at the start of the year, because I worry about those who will not live to see the end of it. Already there are three who wouldn’t.
But on the bright side there are going to be many people who had not seen Guyana in years. This year Guyana will be fifty years old and there are grand plans for the occasion. I was a teenager when the nation was born. I remember that trains still ran and people filled them to head to what was then Queen Elizabeth Park to see the Golden Arrowhead hoisted and the Union Jack lowered for the last time. Steel bands were numerous back then and people tramped through the streets.
I borrowed a bicycle from one of my uncles, put it on the train, and headed to the city from Beterverwagting. I parked that bicycle under a house at the corner of Albert and Lamaha Streets, got in behind a steel band and tramped till daylight. When I got back to where I had left my bike it was there. Those had to be great days.
There were hardly any home invasions; guns were scarce and police stations were places for people who made complaints and for petty thieves. Over the years something happened to people to make some of them the monsters they are.
Respect was the order of the day; children respected adults and paid attention to what they were taught in school. Forbes Burnham had every reason to believe that Guyana was destined for great things. His party is back in power, with the support of some smaller political parties. And as Burnham did, his successor would be participating in the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead when May 26 dawns.
Like Burnham, he must deal with serious issues, one of which is the crime situation. I must admit that the New Year dawned with a drastic reduction in criminal activity (murders not included). Of course there are the political issues. Dr Cheddi Jagan was not there when the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted and I fear that fifty years later the head of the People’s Progressive Party will not be there.
The party will be busy trying to downplay the evidence that points to serious corruption involving those of its members who served as Ministers and as senior Government functionaries. This past week the hammer fell on the activities conducted by Winston Brassington. What should have been done a long time ago began when Brassington flew the coop.
But on the pleasant side, the nation should see better trained public servants, more young people getting jobs, and an increased police force that should help curb criminal excesses. There will also be greater traffic controls.
Most impressive will be the city cameras programme. For some time Guyana has been trying to enhance its security by way of the so-called Big Brother programme. Big Brother was a character created by the writer George Orwell in his book 1984. There was the phrase ‘Big Brother is watching’ in reference to a series of cameras that watched over the city exposing people’s every move.
There would be infrastructure development that the nation had not seen in decades. This would also see greater employment.
But these things will mean nothing once people continue to be unforgiving.

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