I JUST read that a Clonbrook man was stabbed to death by a woman. This was bound to happen. Only a few weeks ago I read that a group of Sophia women badly beat an alleged serial rapist. Having exacted revenge and giving physical vent to their anger, they then took him to the police station. Why I say that this act of ‘getting even’ and ‘hitting back’ was in the making, is simply that there comes a time when ‘enough is enough.’ Now I will never ever advocate that the law be ‘taken into one’s own hands,’ but sometimes, actions like these ‘wake up’ the enemy and the perpetrators of evil. Also, I just do not have all the surrounding details in the matter, as these were withheld. It could be that the woman arrested has a different version of the story. As the law takes its course, I will follow the unraveling. However, I have a few very important points to make.
First, the general public must engage the law at all times. Too many times people wait until matters have gone ‘out of hand.’ Guyana is not a police state, and there are ‘rules and regulations’ to be followed. Here is something that can very well go the ‘Clonbrook’ way. In Guyana, it is now a cultural trait: molestation of females as they walk the roadway. This stinks with a CAPITAL ‘C.’ This vile conduct has become so entrenched, that even minors, specifically the young female students, are the object of this crude act. The guilty parties here are the numerous male ‘school dropouts’ who have all day to do nothing.
These ‘all day limers’ usually work in synchrony with the school hours, of students’ arriving and leaving, and then they cast their ‘dirty’ remarks at them. Yet, villagers stand by and do nothing; some of them, even women, may giggle at times. This activity must stop. The onus is on the victims’ parents and guardians, who can liaise via the school board to blunt this practice. The simple and correct thing to do is to alert the police. I am absolutely sure these enforcers will willingly step in.
Another issue which has gone out of hand is that of noise nuisance in mini-buses and private taxis. Many times, I would be taking a nap or trying to ‘sleep’ my baby, and the sudden outbursts from these vehicles would blow the whole exercise. It leaves me absolutely annoyed. I feel many times like ‘taking the law into my own hands.’ Sometimes I am tempted to secretly pelt down these operators. The same obtains with the CD vendors and their ‘bicycle boom boxes.’ Their intrusion into a day of quiet and peace is very upsetting. This too I sometimes feel like taking the ‘brick/stone’ route. These activities must stop too.
So Dear Editor, I close with a repeat of my suggestions. First, no one has the right to do as he or she pleases. The law must be resorted to. Secondly, how can Guyana ever change, if we all stand by, and expect ‘spoon feeding’ from others, especially the government? We need to work together to make Guyana far better than it is, for it can be this way, only if every single Guyanese be totally involved.