IT is good to see that people are paying attention to the programmes being aired on television and highlighting some of the deficiencies but there is need to look at the whole picture before making observations and casting blame.

In the Kaieteur News of August 30, 2009 a letter writer highlighted the problem of poor grammar in the media but singled out programmes aired on the National Communications Network Inc (NCN) as examples. This makes me wonder why only NCN? We are cognisant of the fact that the media as a whole is plagued with this problem and I found it quite funny that the letter writer singled out NCN’s programmes as the examples.

The writer should pay attention to other media entities including CNS Channel 6 where the English Language is being butchered everyday, the newspapers often have glaring mistakes even in their headlines and the newscasts are all guilty of mistakes.

However, none of these were mentioned and one must be fair, the entire media at some time or the other has glaring grammatical errors which make us cringe but single entities should not be identified for criticisms when they are all guilty. The Kaieteur News for example, is often guilty of printing glaring mistakes which can be spotted at a glance.

I am of the view that the writer has a bias against NCN and has shown that in his writing.
D. RAMLALL

Laying blame at someone else’s doorstep will not help
IT is nice to hear people talking about the bad things that happen in any area with the hope that the situation would be rectified but it is disgusting when they decide to spew nonsense and expect others to get on the bandwagon.

I am sure most of the nation is well aware that Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, Regional Democratic Councils and the Municipalities are given funds every year to supplement their rates and taxes to effect works in their respective areas.

However, the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) would have us believe that the government is deliberately sidelining the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown by not giving it any funding to carry out its works.

Every year at a certain time the government bails out the City Council since their workers would go on strike when they are not paid for their work. This is common knowledge since it is published in the media and it amounts to millions of dollars.

The PNC/R during its Nation Watch programme aired recently on Channel Nine complained that the drains in the City are clogged with garbage resulting in poor drainage and an infestation of mosquitoes but this is the inevitable result of poor management within the Council. When the Council fails to do its duty in collecting rates and taxes from the areas it services then how would it be able to effect works in those areas?

Government continues to provide funding every year and gives the Council millions of dollars to pay its employees so that the work will continue and that residents and visitors to the City are not inconvenienced. It currently receives $10 M per month from an approved $120M for enhancement works.

The PNCR would like us to believe that the government is blaming the Council for not doing its job and that it is the government which is at fault. It is the duty of the Council to collect rates and taxes to pay for the services they provide.

The Council has its own structure and is headed by elected officials. It is imperative that the City Council gets its house in order so that it can properly conduct itself and function effectively. Laying the blame at someone else’s doorstep will not change or help the situation.
DAVID LEWIS