Life in Guyana is the cheapest in the world

Jun 18, 2018 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I didn’t want to lose concentration when the card was in the ATM because if you do not pull it out in time, the machine retrieves it.
I didn’t want that to happen because the institution I fear the most in Guyana is a commercial bank. If the card was sucked in back, then, I had to go to Republic Bank to have it returned. And you know what fate awaits me there.
It would go like this; “I am here to get my ATM card which went back into the machine on Sunday morning” to which the teller would say, “Do you have identification and proof of address? “ Yes madam, I have my driver’s licence and a letter from the GRA with my address.”
Sorry, Mr. Kissoon, we do not accept driver’s licence as proof of identification and we do not accept any paper with an address if it is not accompanied by the envelope with the post office stamp.”
It was Sunday morning. I was at the ATM with my card in the machine when Keith Campbell called me. If you are a music lover, you would know Keith Campbell.
Every week on Tuesday evening, he hosts a programme on Channel 9 named “Kool and Classy Music Hour.” I did not want to reject the call because as a media operative you never do that; it could be someone witnessing a murder.
While trying to talk to Keith, the card was coming up, so with dog in one hand, money in the other hand, and phone in the same hand, I shouted to Keith to keep holding. I did my transaction and Keith proceeded to talk to me.
“Freddie, did you read Saturday’s Kaieteur News?” “Yes Keith, I read the newspapers every day.” Did you see the story about the snake bite victim and what happened to her?”
“No, I didn’t but I am going home to read it now.” When Keith spoke to me, he was angry about the Kaieteur News item. I have just read it and I am even more livid than Keith.
Captioned, “Police stop dying snake bite victim’s vehicle – tells them speeding not a good excuse.”
I am quoting from the article; “A Guyanese man heroically rushed a dying snakebite victim through winding jungle roads to a hospital – only for police to refuse to let him off for speeding. ‘I knew instantly, she had very little time to live and we had to get the poison out of her and get her to the hospital.
Kevin then sped to the nearest medical centre about an hour away in Mabura Hill, but was turned away there because the guard didn’t want to wake the nurses.
Doctors in Linden gave Lizzy first aid but did not have the right anti-venom to properly treat the deadly snakebite.
The trio got back in the car and rushed towards the capital Georgetown, another 108km away, but were pulled over by police when speeding around a bend.
‘I explained to the officer what happened and that she needs the anti-venom; he then said, “That’s not my problem and no excuse to break the law.”
He said the officer refused to let them go while Lizzy lay dying in the back seat, and threatened to search the jeep and look for extra things to fine him for.
‘Be happy, it’s only one charge I’m giving you because your vehicle has too much mud on it and I can’t make out the number plates,’ Kevin said the officer told him.
The group eventually made it to Georgetown and doctors managed to save Lizzy’s life with anti-venom and she is now on the mend.”
Do you know what you have just read here can only happen in Guyana? Do you know that this story is dead and gone and forgotten after Saturday when it was reported?
Do you know the Police Service Commission, the Police Commissioner, the Minister of Home Affairs (oops, sorry, Pubic Security) and the President are not going to act?
Do you know not one women’s group is going to ask for an investigation? Do you know that police rank and that guard will not even be spoken to much less be dismissed.
That girl could have been your mother or your wife or your sister and she would have died just like that because a guard had no respect for her life and a police rank could not have been bothered if she had passed away.
As I write this sad commentary, no doubt, the policeman, the guard and all their bosses must be busy watching World Cup football. Some people are not fit to be part of modern society.

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Life in Guyana is the cheapest in the world

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