— and a veritable construction boom

A SYSTEM that has frustrated a young law-abiding Guyanese citizen from becoming an official gun licence owner for over 20 years, despite satisfactorily overcoming all official probes, to the extent of facilitating visits to his home by police ranks to verify safety/security precautions, is cause to question the integrity and action of not granting the issuance of the licence.This bizarre seemingly official denial is compounded by the most recent dictum from the police for the production of photo of business, receipts of sales, letter from buyer contract, marriage certificate, business registration, copy of title, copy of letter from Guyana Police Force and application, NIS compliance and TIN.
It is really beyond belief that the invasion of privacy is being countenanced by the authorities, and what in effect it creates is an opportunity for graft to enter into the merits of the application.
Quite plainly, the information being requested, in the hands of criminal elements can be dangerous. Nothing more needs to be said, but I want to make it clear that this commentary has nothing to do with the rumours that abound with regard to the alleged buying and selling of official gun licences.
When the decent law abiding Guyanese observe some equally young persons with questionable credentials who have been issued licences, it makes him wonder, derisively, about the Guyana Police Authorities.
Enough of gun licences. So I move on to more impressive happenings in our country, and note that the building industry, inclusive of the many housing projects currently taking place, must be a sure sign that money activities are flourishing.
Accompanying proliferation of the establishment of hardware stores for building materials are all good indicators of a building boom, and I often wonder if we do have the population to justify the confidence being displayed by the private developers.
The building sector is only one of the many developments taking place in the country under the administration of the PPP/C Government, and maybe more will be said in future commentaries.

(By David DeGroot )