IT is remarkable the way some of our laws are being flouted with impunity by some favoured persons while the authorities that be carry on with indifference. This brings to mind the Neesa Gopaul case.

All have acknowledged that, had the persons who were tasked with the responsibility for child welfare done their job in Neesa’s case, she could have been alive today.  Whether Neesa’s demise resulted from negligence, don’t care a damn, she is not my child so why should I care, etc, etc, attitude, one cannot ignore the fact that this young woman is dead today because the persons who are responsible to make the relevant system work effectively failed her.

Of course, as we have learnt, some staffers from various government sectors will be disciplined.  But she is still dead.  And those staffers could be absorbed within other agencies and probably given the same kind of responsibilities.

I referred to the above case to vividly depict how any similar inactivity, negligence, don’t care a damn, they are not my child so why should I care etc, etc, attitude, by other government personnel in other areas of responsibility are shirking their responsibilities thereby leaving our children exposed to becoming involved in the very vices which we have enacted laws to prevent.

The case in point here is the exposure of young boys to alcohol and vulgar lyrics at an electronic game shop at Meten-Meer-Zorg Public Road, West Coast Demerara. This game shop is the cover for trading in alcoholic beverages which are publicly advertised. Any observer will immediately recognize that the sale of alcoholic beverages at this venue is unlicenced. One wonders whether even the game shop is licenced, but that is another matter and not my immediate concern.

I am certain that members of the Guyana Police Force who patrol the area would have noticed this questionable operation. It is not surprising however, that nothing has been done to bring an end to this situation which is pregnant with potential to bring harm to our children, especially since ranks of the said Guyana Police Force imbibe at the venue.

Recently we passed laws which prohibit the selling of alcohol to persons less than sixteen years of age with hefty punitive measures to be taken against persons who are found to be in breach of the laws.  This is a commendable law which needs to be observed without variance.  However, one can only wonder how the said laws would apply in the case of the game shop in question?

I can think of several agencies that ought to be concerned about the situation described above. They include the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Excise Department of the Guyana Revenue Authority. So what is happening? What are the relevant Inspectors doing?

The Government is on record as having called repeatedly for persons to play their roles in helping to make their respective communities better places where they could live in comfort with their families and neighbours. This call has been endorsed by the Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations and even external personalities. In heeding this call, I am bringing this matter publicly to the attention of all of the concerned agencies.  It is now left to be seen whether appropriate action will be taken as is necessary.

I understand that someone may interpret this letter to mean that the author has an axe to grind with the operator of the game shop. Nothing could be further from the truth.  I respect everyone’s right to become gainfully occupied, but in so doing they must operate within the parameters of the attending laws and moral principles.

It might be easy to dismiss this matter on the grounds that the author is bellyaching about one case.  A proposition, it must never be forgotten that Neesa Gopaul was one case.  She is now dead as a result of the nonchalance of uncaring officials.

Sustained proactive action is by far superior to knee jerk reactions under crisis situations.  I call upon all of the concerned Agencies/personnel not to shirk their responsibilities in treating with this matter which carries serious potential to affect the young children in our neighbourhood. Do something, please.

Do not be negligent. Honour your responsibilities. Do not adopt the don’t care a damn, it cannot affect my child attitude. Let us not forget how we failed Neesa Gopaul.

Mr. Editor, I kindly request that you withhold my name and address for fear that I will be targeted when this letter gets published.