At age 13, I stopped attending the Mash celebrations

Mar 05, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I may be wrong but two differences between the developed and the undeveloped (developing included) are critical analysis and actions arising from these analyses. Critics are influential. Their arguments can be imaginative or laced with evidence, either way they have opinions to share and these propel people to act or react.
Guyana has persons who are critical, your newspaper carries some of their letters and columns daily. Why then are we lagging behind in development? To date, most of the population resides in Region 4; Guyanese are seemingly not attracted to our hinterland regions. A person currently living in Region 3, 4 or 10 will not happily migrate to region 1 or 2. Why? Several reasons come to mind: no university, inadequate lighting, insufficient water supply, difficulty in getting from one place to another and the uncertainly of leaving one custom for another. Can these be addressed? Yes. They can.
When our critics speak, some shun them and others become critics of those critics. We are failing miserably at acting upon the issues that many are critical of. One columnist has pointed out that Mashramani is now an X-rated event. However, this issue was raised years ago. Personally, I ceased to attend the celebrations at around age 13. The critics were from the church and other organizations of worship. Many became critical of these critics and so they retreated and Mashramani continued as it did. Someone else is speaking now.
We need to be active and give ourselves time-frames. Where critics have pointed out deficiencies and lack we need to address these. Our actions may not be right the first time but we need to act. How many of us can point out the wrongs in policies of the developed world. The World Health Organization sometimes makes statements, and people act upon these. Later new evidence emerges, the World Health Organization changes policies and actions change likewise. We are not perfect beings.
What does the evidence say? The parking meter project is opaque: cancel it. Start again (court proceedings take time and City Hall can address this issue internally to save time). We need a new GECOM chairman: publish the criteria for selection, submit another list. Fires are on the increase, and most are due to arson: highlight the penalties for arson, have a high index of suspicion, employ guards at suspicious places (may be too burdensome). Road traffic accidents are increasing and drunk driving is a major contributor: institute breathalyzer testing near rum shops and have temporary holdings for those above the legal limit (your ideas count too).
Ayanna Isaacs

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