Return to normalcy; the normalcy of nastiness

Oct 31, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
One of the best things to happen to our dear country over the past 16 months is the execution of Local Government Elections (LGE). It has given the people the chance to elect their local leaders, and to be part of the governance of their communities. The most important local area is the City of Georgetown, for the obvious reason that it is the capital of the country. Many had high hopes of seeing much needed changes in the way the city was governed. Though some often criticized old faces were returned to the helm of City management, citizens were willing to give them a second chance.
Things started off with great promise immediately after 15th May, 2015, largely due to the assistance and urgings of Coalition Government. However, we are seeing a relapse to the old, crooked, lazy and inconsistent way of doing things from City Hall. We have heard about the hundreds of workers employed by the Municipality, but one rarely sees them in the streets of Georgetown. We hope they aren’t at the homes of officials doing private tasks. Why this is of concern to the citizenry, is due to the untidy state of the City, and the inability or reluctance of senior functionaries of the Municipality to get the basic tasks of city management, right.
If one was to walk along Camp or Regent Street, you would be greeted with the sorry sight of solid waste strewn along the parapets and in the drains. I remember when the late Mr. David De Caires and other businessmen operating or residing on Camp Street had undertaken the beautification and maintenance of that area – it was such a pleasing sight- sadly, all has returned to normal- the normalcy of nastiness.
It behooves me, how persons can operate in such putrid conditions. The avenue opposite the GRA head office also is in a deplorable state- Why is it so difficult for the Revenue Authority to “adopt” the stretch of Camp Street, between Middle and Quamina Streets, and have it maintained? Surely, that cannot “break the bank”.
Another area that highlights the level of lawlessness that has become pervasive in our country is the junction of “Back Road” and the East Bank Highway. The grassed area south of the “GUYTRAC” machinery company, was well weeded and cordoned off during the massive clean-up and beautification of Georgetown post May, 2015. That area looked so pleasing to the eyes, until residents started to tie horses to graze on the said reserve. However, the worst was yet to come.
Over the last 5 months or so, personnel of “GUYTRAC” commenced the parking of heavy duty machinery, namely excavators and trucks, on the same reserve, showing utter disdain for the city by-laws, and for the infrastructure (4×4 lumber and rope) City Hall had placed there to prevent destruction and encroachment onto the reserve. Someone removed these 4×4 posts, and cut the ropes to gain access, and have been parking about 10 heavy duty vehicles ever since.
At such a busy intersection, the view of those using the road, in now obscured. No one can tell me, officers at City Hall haven’t passed there and seen what is taking place- people just do not care. If the “small man” had moved those barricades to vend, they would have incurred the wrath of the “King”.
While City Hall belatedly hustles to remove the excavators etc, please take a look at the persons who are selling bottled water and other food items, on the median of this same intersection. They are untidy, have made the area a garbage receptacle, and most of all, present a danger to themselves, due to the oncoming traffic. As is the norm in Guyana, we will wait until something drastic happens, before we attempt to fix the problem. Please City Hall, do your job.
Jeumayne Dummett

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