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After hearing and reading of all the developments taking place in my beloved country under the present administration, I was very excited to return home for the Christmas holidays, having stayed away for some 20 years.
As I embarked on visiting relatives and friends I was so pleased to see the changes and transformation that took place; just imagine leaving a country in total darkness and returning to see street lights on every major highway, in every village new structures are being built or enhancement being done to existing ones, housing schemes being developed not only in Demerara but in Berbice, Linden and I was told even in Lethem. It shows clearly that this government has the interest of its people at heart and I am confident that it will continue to transform Guyana into the promised bread basket of the Caribbean and may even influence people like myself to return permanently to our homeland.
Having seen all of this I was appalled and horrified at the unsightly scenes that I encountered while visiting Georgetown, our Capital City. I must say that looking at the buildings and the buzzing business activities that took place during the Christmas season there are enough indications that our people are enjoying a more comfortable life even when the more developed countries are facing dire financial crises. But what bothers me is that it seems that the relevant authority tasked with the sanitation of our capital has elapsed into hibernation. Having such good perceptions of life here I was completely shocked and annoyed to see Georgetown in the state that it is in, nothing more than a garbage dump. The town is filthy, stink and unhealthy for anyone to visit much less for those living there. How can a country have a Mayor and City council in Office collecting ‘taxpayers’ money and have the city in such a state? The streets are filled with garbage, almost every major corner has a huge pile of rotten, stinking garbage, the drains are so clogged with empty plastic bottles it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes other insects and reptiles.
Having a Mayor that served as the Prime Minister of this country I had expected better, but it seems as though incompetence is the order of the day. I invite the Mayor and his councillors to walk the streets of Georgetown and experience the trauma and risk that the people of this country are exposed to by their administration.
Mr. Green, it is common decency to know when you have exhausted your usefulness; could Brian Lara play cricket forever? So with all due consideration let us be civil and do what is necessary to take our country forward; yet you complain that the youths are not getting enough opportunities, but it is people like you and others who believe that you are God-sent custodians of high offices. It is time we assert ourselves and stop this obsession with power and allow people who are capable and more open-minded to have an opportunity.
I will definitely take back good news of my country even though it will pain me to describe the state of Georgetown. I certainly hope that by the time I am back for my next visit our garden city will be much more habitable, will be a true GARDEN CITY .
