Social distancing and curfew: What’s up with that?

May 30, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

On Thursday morning, I turned on the laptop to be greeted by the sharp concerns of the CMO, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, over a menacing “runaway situation” relative to the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic here (SN and KN May 28). I think the concerned CMO could have saved his breath, for all the responsible and cooperating attitudes and actions that his stark caution would generate from citizens. We are too chronically disorderly and proud of it, too.
In many Guyanese minds and many local places, social distancing and curfew restrictions are a joke. My sense of the reactions: Social distancing and curfew: What’s up with that? As I look at the local plains, I offer a few insights, Solomonic they may not be, but I think that some rise to that of the basics, which trouble the CMO and others like me. Some snapshots of Guyanese realities should enlighten; they are a public secret.
It was around 17:45hrs on Friday last in Georgetown. The corners (shops) are enjoying a brisk trade. Nobody should think that there are thoughts and preparations to call it a day. After a long hot one, closing out with one for the road (a long cold one, maybe north of a dozen by this time) is not on the table; since Guyanese have earned a world-class reputation for lateness, the plan is to be late departing, and late in following any curfew timeline. Who cares? Worry, who me? Get real, will ya! I suggest rethinking, as the cars were pulling up, with groups of the boisterous and swaggering thirsty. Like I said, the night has just begun; nobody is complaining; let the music and the good times begin.
In the rural areas, there are numerous extensions of the bright lights of the big, bad city. This is the life; let’s get it on. The merrymaking and inebriated of Guyana are having the time of their lives, as though living in a Titanic moment. In this, I detect shades of passive resistance, what my American homeys from another era would have called ‘sticking it to The Man’.
In Guyana, this is demonstrated via low-intensity civil resistance and disobedience by the ignorant and arrogant, the intellectually vagrant, too. It happens all the time, this almost total disregard for any law or the law-abiding. It promises to hurt us with this pandemic creeping up in plain sight. Other Caricom neighbours have reopened or are preparing to do so; we better be ready to batten down for a while longer, and for this we only have ourselves to blame, as in self-inflicted, through our indifference, recklessness, and endangering conduct.
As examples, I tender Exhibits 1 through whatever, beginning with traffic rules that led to the standards for the social distancing of today: no spacing, no listening, no complying; the lines in offices, businesses, and other places ignored; the pregnant women and struggling elderly pushed aside. The low-degree resistances from before are now manifested here, there, and everywhere, as social distancing and curfew limitations are ignored and trampled upon without a care.
Thus, I have difficulty understanding how anyone in authority expects Guyanese to adhere to soft guidelines and harder limitations. It is just not part of our makeup anymore. Before, Guyanese spat upon and smirked at the visible-posted signs, official regulations, one-way streets, and waiting one’s turn-yet now and somehow, by some inexplicable reasoning, there are beliefs that citizens will observe and obey, when held back-indeed, denied and menaced-by the invisible. That is, this concoction and fairy tale about a virus blown out of all proportion (according to some thinking) for possible nefarious objectives.
In classic Guyanese fashion, the refrain is: ‘ah ain’t gat time wid dat’. We broke every rule before (guilty also) and now we want righteousness. Why now and how and from whom? And as I look at what is going on relative to elections, curfews, and social distancing, I ask why should we be different now? Following instructions is just not in our DNA anymore. That is, unless it is the white man or some foreigner passing the orders – for them, we jump. Locally, we elbowed those ahead of us before, but today we expect citizens to find religion when we preach discipline and orderliness and the safety that comes from social distancing. Remember what happened at CJIA when stranded relatives returned? When promises made to keep distance were nonchalantly broken? This is what we know and relish, like when we invade the sanctuary of schools and assault teachers.
The CMO warned of a possible “runaway situation” looming. I think some damage has been done already, and it may be too late. Moreover, he will be rewarded with stone deafness for his official pains. It is just the way we were before and are today.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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