HOW inconsiderate for the Immigration Department of the Guyana Police Force to shut their doors for the entire day, on a working day to say the least, to have fun in the sun at their sports. That office in Georgetown is jam- packed with people from all over Guyana on any given day so I can imagine the huge turn out last Friday at the passport office. I guess the police are not sensitive as to the huge sacrifices that are made by citizens to get to the Georgetown office very early from all across Guyana with monies being spent for this.

Furthermore, more than two years after the launch of Machine Readable Passports (MRP’s) in Guyana, why can’t such services be streamlined at the various regions throughout Guyana? This will ease the suffering and confusion faced by many persons after leaving their far- flung homes to visit the main office in the capital. I will never forget my ordeal in February of 2008 after leaving my home at 2am to reach the passport office to apply for an MRP.

So, why couldn’t the police have their sports on a Saturday or Sunday? This madness must stop. This is not normal at all. You can’t just close up the passport office—the main office—for one entire day, when massive crowds gather there every working day to apply for passports and uplift same, not to mention other important business. The people of this country depend on the passport office for such service and I believe it is only fair to provide the service continuously without any interruptions such as the police sports.

I think the police are having it too good in this country while other public servants like teachers and nurses always come under pressure from the government and the people of Guyana.

The police has its plate full with things to do to regain the respect and confidence of a nation of people who are quite dubious and skeptical as of the motive of the police force in this country—if it is to brutalise, murder and rob innocent Guyanese or to serve and protect the nation.

It’s going to take a long time to achieve this.
LEON J. SUSERAN