Our quality of life
Frankly Speaking...
By A. A. Fenty
Stabroek News
November 14, 2003
This was one of those weeks for me. As I heard, saw and read of the rapes, murders, deaths, fires and accidents, the grossness of the younger members of our society, the challenges to live a routine life here and the general cheapening of human life, I wonder what is the point of continuing to write these pieces.
What are all the "wise" thoughts, the provocative views, the sound, structured analyses worth if they don't, ultimately, contribute to significant systemic change in national behaviour? For the better? I look around at the lame artificial attempts of today's church - traditional and new gospel/reggae roots variety - and observe the crude behaviour of the school-going youth. I see evidence of single-parent households, the breakdown of the old-time family circle whereby even grandmother's scoldings are scorned these days. And I despair. I experience the daily disorder and disorderly behaviour, the disrespect for authority and wonder whether the governmental administration is incapable of commanding respect. And I despair. For our collective future.
However, I realise that against the more global backdrop of tribal battles, wars on terrorism, pandemic diseases and inequitable trade resulting in universal pockets of stark poverty in our world, it behoves some of us to titillate the mind still. To ask people to think about the human condition - in all its manifestations - wherever they are. Debate broadens the mind, I'm told. Whether profound, complex or simple the views, the theories, the analyses should result, I repeat, in long-term understanding and desirable change in how we approach life's challenges and our relationships with those around us.
And though I feel sterile at not effecting or experiencing the changes necessary for a better life amongst us, I am addicted to this column. It has its own following by now. The results might not be as tangible as I would like but who knows, somewhere some reader might be moved to act. So I, so we, write.
One source of despair for me, solidly amongst this country's challenged working class as I find myself, is the stagnant or deteriorating quality of life as manifested in some of our everyday events and necessities. Now, I hesitate to be guilty of being - like our daily front pages - the purveyor of bad news. The bad news which sells. But some things have to be said or written. In the hope of catching the right people's eyes, ears and minds. I also am of the view that Guyana today is too poor to try to be the typical welfare state capable of taking care of all its poor and not so poor. I'll be fair enough to mention that this government is trying its best to satisfy within its limitations. But its limitations are numerous and most governments' "best" is never good enough. Take our health care delivery system. Who can deny that there have been vast improvements over the past decade? Under previous regimes, rats bit and chewed at babies' fingers. I regret we have to travel overseas still, for certain treatments but the daily deluge of poor patients who are actually ill and those who love to be sick overwhelm the poor public hospitals and clinics. When you become angry at nurses and other public care-givers who are underpaid remember the cost of health services elsewhere. I'm not excusing anything but I suggest that attitudes are as important as availability of drugs.
Then there is our water supply. Don't measure our quality of life by our quality of water. Internationally, we have actually won accolades for our provision of potable water to our people. But don't tell my neighbours or folks on the Essequibo Coast, or the squatters who really should not be where they are. The pressure is low. The water smells. Why? For too long we were never taught how expensive the potable water product is. Now we have to pay to assist, we balk. Egg and chicken syndrome. But please water is life!
For public transportation we the poor are held hostage by the crudity and grossness of most mini-buses and their sub-literate operators. This is where I really despair. And I comment no further. Educa-tion is the key to all this mind you, but what is the state of play there? Try to forget the measuring rod of examination results for an instant. Is the education process resulting in better behaved, productive young Guyanese? The debate rages on.
Need I mention electricity supply? The failure and scourge of all governments since the '70's? And the blight on our lives? I submit that electricity failure and education doubts have contributed significantly to the decision of many to migrate. Employment opportunities, personal safety and security rank right up there too. It's the quality of the life that disappoints us. If we don't have alternative sources of income, resources to provide our own transportation, medicines, treatments, private lessons, water filters, generators and pumps. I end my lament. And ask myself: What can I do towards improvement?
Two of my daughters living overseas really love tamarind balls made from tamarinds in Guyana. Even if Mr Bullen, the Grenadian American Ambassador of the USA in Kingston allows me to continue visiting his country, I am carrying no more tamarind balls for those girls! Even though I willingly, confidently allow Customs to search me and my belongings thoroughly. Imagine this American lady from Pennsylvania carrying out coke in sugar-cakes, Pholou-rie, egg-balls and tamarind balls. Then there was another American who lived with my neighbours years ago who attempted to take the cocaine out in a cricket bat! An American taking a cricket bat to England, where they make bats! Eyepass!
Name twenty (20) ways in which people try to - and do - smuggle cocaine out. I'll help with the first five: in rum, food, shoes, ornaments, stomachs and buttocks. Continue the list.
Oh and poor Crime Chief Trim. He knows only a few Big Fish and Barons. I sympathise. Because I notice that nearly all of the couriers caught never divulge the sources of the drug. Who gave the Pholourie maker the Coke!?
1) Pure respect have I for Clarence Ellis the Economist and Afro-centric loyal. But who or what inspired him to publish, on Tuesday, the following:
"The parallel development of Black people in their villages provides opportunities similarly for Black self determination. The East Indians will have a head start in greater cultural cohesion and in greater financial resources but Black people will have the advantage in egalitarianism and an easier grasp of council deliberations and they will shake off the repressive domination of NDCs." Says who?
2) Poor Editor, your one time young colt reporter now arrogates unto himself the authority to judge your 'papers policies, writers and subjects. His democratic right? Or your accommodation of overly long treatises passing as "letters"?
No wonder you were forced to note:
"We do not know what more any newspaper can do to open up its pages to ideas from readers. In fact, we state categorically that we are not aware of any newspaper in the region or indeed in the world that regularly publishes such long letters from readers."
3) Has the devil won? Our families and churches try. But the Devil's disciples kill, kidnap, maim and disobey all of life's good rules. What is the reason? Prophecy?
4) 'Piggy Mouth' and Neil Bovell are accommodated on the run. Communities have people who aid and abet criminals - as in Buxton. Signs of the times?
5) Would Christopher Ram make a great Minister of Finance? Or would he be let down by his Cabinet?
'Til next week!