Mr. Godfrey Statia and his team have set a good example

Oct 07, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

It was one of those rare instances where I had to interact recently with a government agency. I visited the GRA office on Camp Street earlier this week and am pleased to report that I had a good experience. Because I am always on the lookout for what is positive and welcomed, I wish to share with the public as much of the experience as it happened.
It was just before 07:00hrs and there are eight citizens in front of me, masks on and social distancing properly and largely observed. That was a good start. At 07:00hrs precisely, the line started moving with temperature check, security check, and directions to points for washing hands. Greetings extended were returned. From guards to ushers, workers on duty were professional. I am asking myself whether, indeed, I am in Guyana or I am imagining things. It was the same with directions to seating and waiting. At 07:12hrs, the waiting citizens were directed to the specific area in the GRA to initiate and complete their needed service(s).
The first stage of inquiry and scrutiny occupied five minutes, with everything proceeding like clockwork and all protocols and courtesies followed. In fact, and this is a shade embarrassing, the only out of order citizen present was yours truly. I had momentarily shifted my mask partially downward, only to be immediately and sharply reprimanded, yet still within the bounds of professional caution. Apologies were delivered and quick corrective action taken; I chalk that up to being here too long. It is now 07:20hrs and I am at the next person before the cashier. Three minutes later I was done. At 07:30hrs, I was out of there, all over.
Editor, the entire process at the GRA took 30 minutes. What used to be an adventure (from my perspective), and an ordeal for others, turned out just right. It took a little while and some tremendous frustration on the part of citizens to get to this point, but it is worth it. It is the way it should be in this society: how citizens comport themselves, how public service workers (private sector ones, too) should handle the business of the State and the people in the business that comes before them.
I commend Commissioner General Godfrey Statia for the sustained yeoman efforts – clean ones, too – to get many segments of the GRA humming like a well-tuned machine. Credit goes to him for leading the way and also to his managers for implementing what was discussed in the boardrooms and management meetings and staff meetings. What I experienced was a sterling example of going outside the easy, sweet, cheap talk and delivering where it counts – to citizens who need the relief, who could use something in return for their tax dollars paid and taken.
I submit that Mr. Statia and his team have set an example for a number of good Guyanese folks, leaders all to consider following. My Statia’s example should be imitated by the President and his Cabinet and their supporting bureaucrats in the many ministries and State agencies. It is where all members of the public should matter, in feeling that they come first, they must be served well, and neither effort nor consideration spared. They must not be made to feel that they are begging for what does not belong or illegal aliens in hostile territory. This kind of service and delivery, as I experienced, should not be the exception, but the norm. To Godfrey Statia and the GRA staff, thank you. To the Guyana government: I regret to hear that Commissioner General is on the way. That would be an incalculable loss to this country. And I am talking about integrity only.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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