I WOULD first like to applaud the new Minister of Public Security for the outstanding work done so far, and new vision and direction put forth for the reforming of Guyana’s security sector. The devastating impacts of crime on foreign investment, migration, morale of country, among others have been documented by many observers in the past.
I however would like to encourage the Minister to look into an area that has been neglected for far too long in Guyana, and has now become our dominant culture and one which I believe has an inextricable link to crime in this country; and that is underage drinking.
As a young Guyanese, and one who resides in what is considered a low-income area in the countryside of Guyana, the effects of this phenomenon is more profound and evident, due to obvious impacts one can see taking place by this culture which unfortunately has been allowed to flourish and get out of hand.
Mr. Minister, today in Guyana and virtually in all locations where alcohol is consumed or sold, one can find the presence of underage persons (persons under 18 years of age) either buying or consuming alcohol. Many bar/shop owners, particularly in rural areas of Guyana, accept this behaviour because many underage drinkers account for a good percentage of their revenue, thus the reluctance to change.
Persons who acquire a liquor licence should be aware that selling alcohol to minors is a violation, and risk having their licence taken away.
Almost zero of these establishments practise checking the ID cards of suspected underage persons, and virtually none have “clearly visible signs” (which should be issued by a Governmental entity) of the infraction of selling alcohol to a minor, as typically done in the U.S. (also applies for tobacco as well).
As a person who lived in the U.S for quite some time, I am appalled at the apparent lax in this law, and the type of culture that now dominates Guyanese society. This is an issue that U.S. States and Federal Government take very seriously, because they recognise the dangers that exist.
It does not take an expert to observe what lies ahead for a society/community that continues to allow this behaviour to continue. Teenage drinking is, quite frankly, something that no business establishment should be encouraging.
Persons living in these communities where this trend is more evident can testify to the problems that occur when underage persons consume alcohol, particularly in the rural areas, which is most of Guyana, by and large.
It is the Number One contributor of violence, noise nuisance and lawless behaviour to law-abiding citizens in these communities, and many Guyanese are simply held hostage to this phenomenon.
Guyana is now at a crossroads for her survival after decades of rot and decay. What we do today will determine where we as society stand tomorrow. Like many ills which start innocuously, this one was allowed to fester and become the elephant in the room, which hardly anyone talks about.
It is time for change; and on that note, I ask that this issue be looked at and taken seriously by the new Administration.
D. PERSAUD