On wishes for the new year
What the people say
We asked the man/woman-in-the-street, having just entered a new year what three wishes they now have. They were encouraged to talk about changes they would like to see in Guyana in the year 2000. The question asked was, "What are your three wishes for the new year?" Their responses follow: Hafez Khan, medical practitioner: 'I would like to see improvements in some areas of our country. Firstly, I want the City of Georgetown to be cleared up to really portray that it is the capital of Guyana. Also there should be some measures put in place to prevent the flooding of the city when it rains. I hope that the new year will be better than last year and as such there should be all round improvements.' Samantha Jonas, student: `I would like to see our schools more equipped. They should be modernised to bring them up to standard with modern technologies. We should clean up our environment and as a result Guyana will return to the real Guyana it was. Since teenage pregnancy is so prevalent, I think the relevant authorities should focus more on this aspect and educate our young people on the consequences of having premarital sex.' Vanessa Kissoon, teacher-in-training: `I wish that there were more God-fearing persons in our country. More persons should accept Jesus as their saviour. There should be more love and unity among Guyanese people so that we can all live as one and help build the country. Teachers should be paid better salaries so that we can be more respected in society.' Alexis Carter, teacher-in-training: `I would want Guyanese people to live as one in the country and we should work together to achieve the betterment of the country. Teachers should be paid more money in the new year and to really earn this increased payment that may be forthcoming, I hope to graduate from college with distinction. We as Guyanese should begin appreciating what each other is trying to do and as such we would be endeavouring to build a better country'. Ralph Persaud, mason: 'I hope in the new year Government would get really serious in addressing the needs of the poorer class of people and help them to achieve their endeavours. I hope that President Bharrat Jagdeo would fulfil all the promises he made since he took up the presidency. I also hope in the new year that the president and his ministers would not sell out more of our companies to private investors.' Diana Mohan, teacher: 'I wish in the new year the cost of food stuff in our country would have a significant drop. Most importantly I would like the people in high places, especially members of parliament, to come down to the standard of the lower class of people and really experience what they are going through so that when they are making their decisions they would have a first-hand understanding of what the country really needs. I hope that come next year there would be increased peace and unity in our country.' Stan Harris, carpenter: 'I want the new year to be better than last year and as such Government should pay the public workers the salaries they promised. Next Christmas should be better than this one and to achieve that I hope we would have a more progressive year. I hope that in the new year more job opportunities will be opened and if that is so more money would be circulated.' Paul Balkissoon, student: `I would wish that all our people would get along with each other more. We all should love each other and bring about peace and unity in our country. I would want to see in the new year that our living standards are improved. Lastly, our teachers should be paid more so that they in turn would be motivated to teach us students.' Francene Baker, self-employed: `There are so many homeless persons on the road and I wish that the Government would build more institutions so as to decrease the number of people on the streets. I want to see Guyana's economy rise significantly in the new year since at present it is very low. I wish that all the ethnic groups would come together and live as one and eradicate the division that is popping up ever so often.' Desmond Whynter, private sector employee: `I would like to see the entire world get closer to God since there are a lot of signs which show that the Lord's coming is soon. I would want to see Guyana become a better place in terms of the economy. I would also like to see that young people in the new year take life more seriously.'
|