Backward country

Jul 03, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

I write as a Guyanese woman who is deeply troubled by all that is occurring in the country of my birth. A country that is tethering, racing to who knows where, on a runaway train. Shame on all those who held helm since independence. Now and Before.

I recall being in a West Indian Supermarket in Canada several years ago when a stranger, after hearing me speak, stopped to ask if I was of Guyanese heritage. I assented and was surprised at his outburst .He vehemently exclaimed that he was finished with that country and would not be going back. I was taken aback, as I loved my country and could not understand how someone could express such hatred for the land of their birth as I have always felt there was nowhere like home. Needless to say, I am older, wiser and can empathize with him.

I pen this letter simply because of an incident that occurred a few days ago. A young woman had a complaint against a young man who she claimed had tampered with some part of equipment she had asked him to fix. He denied it, but the woman was irate and after using extremely abusive language laced with expletives, said she knew someone in the Guyana Police Force and she was going to get him to do something.

A little while later, five policemen arrived at the man’s home, some with guns asking him to accompany them to the station. FIVE! The wife, angry at what took place shouted that he (her husband) should never have tried to help the junkie (referring to the complainant). One officer told her, if she wanted him to lock her up (for speaking, mind you).
Looking on at what was playing out was a three year old who said that she did not like police. Is this how the police should be viewed by our young ones?
Now, many citizens have complained that it’s a waste of time to call the police for various reasons.

My question is how come the police was able to be so prompt on a simple matter and send not one policeman, but FIVE? Is it because the young woman was attractive and knew someone with some bit of rank?
Another matter that incensed me is a video I saw a day ago, of a policeman hitting a detainee who was sitting in the carriage of a police vehicle.

The guy got angry got up and began to return the blows. He was hauled out of the vehicle, fell to the floor and was stamped by another police with his boots. It causes me to wonder what kind of beasts we are dealing with here.

Who trains these ignoramuses! Isn’t there a standard procedure to follow?
The US Embassy and passport office have an influx of applicants. Why do Guyanese wish to flee? No hope! Too much unfairness, hypocrisy, greed and unjustness struts the land. Money, and, plenty of it cannot turn a beast into a beauty, nor does a suit create a gentleman. The men folk have broken our nation; the educated, the so called elites, the politicians have wasted our beautiful land. Shame on them all. It’s a sad day for those who are looking for a husband. Good luck! Not certain how many have an ounce of integrity.

To those who would say it’s a universal situation, I focus on Guyana.
I have two questions that I wish could be answered.

(1) Why does the bank deduct withholding taxes from pensions? Why does one have to apply to GRA to have it stopped? Backward country.
(2) What happens to bail money that has not being claimed for some reason or the other? Shouldn’t the police authority print the names affixed to unclaimed bail money? Is it ethical to keep it without advertising it as unclaimed? Do they audit that or is it spoils for who knows?

J. Hinds

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News