The Guyanese attitude
Editorial
Kaieteur News
February 3, 2007
Two months ago, Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council World Cup ( West Indies ) billed to start in the region in March, said that the various countries at which matches would be played were akin to a team falling behind in a limited-overs match.
In his words, the overs were running out and the run-rate was approaching eight per over. What he was expressing a concern about was the fact that the date for the opening ceremony was not too far away but all was not ready.
Most of the venues were not complete and despite the ICC demand that everything be in place by December 31, last year, the countries failed to reach the deadline. The ICC then extended the deadline but all was not well. Visiting teams found a series of faults.
In Guyana the major problems centered on the pitch and the outfield. The outfield, despite an ample covering of grass, was far from match ready. Sand was evident and this was cause for concern from the point of view of the ICC.
The visiting team reserved its harshest criticism for the non-completion of the practice pitches. The location for these pitches was as bare as Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard. All concerned, except the Guyanese were angry and were certain that Guyana would have been one of the venues without a practice pitch.
However, the locals were confident that they would be ready. The Guyanese are no strangers to working close to deadlines. Give a Guyanese four months to undertake a project, and he would ensure that it is completed just before the deadline approaches. It seems that this feature is not common to Guyanese. It may very well be a Caribbean culture.
All over the region the various countries are fighting to complete their stadiums.
In other countries outside the region, people would have been pulling the hair out of their heads but we are different. We never get flustered and this perhaps accounts for our ability to roll with the punches.
We have not had the best run at economic development. We have no major manufacturing. None of us are making a bicycle. In fact, asking us to make bicycle spokes may be pushing the limit.
When economic misfortunes hit us we seek alternatives rather than throwing up our hands and giving up. Perhaps it is this attitude that makes us gravitate to those things that turn some of us into criminals. We take chances.
This laid back chance-taking attitude may not always be to our advantage. Of course, as far as our health is concerned we may avoid heart attacks and strokes because we are not known to harbour stressful conditions.
But by the same token we take chances. It is no secret that Jamaica is home to the region's ganja plantations and that the market affords employment to a lot of people who would otherwise have been on the breadline.
In Guyana , we seem to have gravitated to those things that represent quick money. We are enmeshed with the cocaine barons in other countries and we are content to be mere agents. The proceeds are good at times but the risks are myriad. People have gone to great lengths to peddle this drug, many ending up in jail and quite a few dying.
This laid-back attitude is also leading to the absence of men in the labour force. The people in the construction industry were hard pressed to find labourers. Men were simply not responding to the call. This shortage of labour and skills has caused the delay in the construction of major hotels that should have been completed some time ago, in preparation for Cricket World Cup.
It was the same with the stadium at Providence . The local workers did not adjust readily to the work ethic of the Indian contractors. Where the locals preferred to be casual the Indians were aggressive. In the end, all's well that ends well. There was an accommodation and the stadium is threatening to be the best of them all.
Another ICC team is heading this was on February 6 for what is likely to be the final inspection. They are in for a pleasant surprise. The things of which they complained are so markedly improved that the visitors would never recognise that these were the things that had faults a few short weeks ago.
If the reports are to be believed, Guyana would have the best pitch and outfield. Indeed, it has the largest playing area.
The main public road is not finished and the fencing of the compound and the construction of the parking facilities are still to be ready. But rest assured; the Guyanese penchant for last-minute finishes would make everything possible.