I WILL never describe a fictional story as real and cite my wife as evidence. I draw that line in life when it comes to my wife. But I am citing my wife as evidence because she was there with me when I saw this aberration. Go Google and type, “Freddie Kissoon says police making random stops.”
You will find several articles going back ten years ago. Three Commissioners, before Mr. Leslie James, have publicly ordered traffic ranks not to make random stops. Days after each commissioner made that edict, I saw ranks doing the random stops. This is why over a ten-year period, I have done several columns on this permanently weird thing.

Let me tell you what I saw last Sunday, with my wife in the car on West Coast Demerara and East Bank Essequibo. There were traffic policemen doing random stops. Here is the incredible dimension to the story. A week ago before that Sunday, the present Commissioner issued instructions to desist from making casual interceptions of drivers. Three days before last Sunday, the Attorney-General endorsed the Commissioner’s edict. Yet, last Sunday, I saw it.
I stopped at the first set of ranks and advised them of the public statement by the Commissioner. The officer in charge agreed and said they were not doing random interceptions; they were. I saw them before I pulled up. One mile going further, I saw another squad doing the same thing. My wife insisted that we just drive on. Coming back from Parika I saw ranks making random halts.

In this new year, these arbitrary interceptions requesting documents from motorists must come to an end. If the police force reverses its position, then the practice becomes proper. Once the police force continues with its present guideline of no random interception, traffic ranks must adhere to it. In 2025, traffic officer must bring this disrespect to an end.

Here are some of the unacceptable things that must go in 2025. Most definitely one is the long time it takes to get an ID card. This document is priceless. Do you know you are not allowed into the compound of Lands and Survey if you cannot produce your ID? Some commercial banks frown on driver’s licence; they want the real McKoy- the ID card. Yet is takes an enormous wait to get a replaced ID. My nephew died and never got his ID even though he applied for it.

Next is the passport line. That must disappear in 2025.  A renewed passport should take just hours once you produce the expired one. Next is the time it takes to get a NIS officer to verify your life certificate application by Whatsapp. Many times there is no one answering the phone and you have to try the next day. It makes no sense if you tell pensioners that they can submit their certificate through Whatsapp and there is no person answering on the other end.
Next is the beautifully landscaped Kingston Seawall esplanade. This was the brainchild of the First Lady. What I saw there in 2024 must come to an end in 2025. The place has a police outpost and all of the ranks there told me their job is not to confront vandalism or intercept the homeless destroying the place.

Last year I saw terrible things there and they will continue if you do not have fulltime security personnel to deal with these situations. The place will lose its beauty. Let me describe two of the most horrible things I saw last year. A derelict sat on a bench and washed his feet with two bottles of something smelly and oily. There he was sitting on a bench and literally destroying it. Imagine a visiting family sits on that bench after the derelict is gone.
A woman of unsound mind is roaming the esplanade. Here is what I saw one evening. She brought about ten pieces of dirty old dresses and spread it on an entire bench. As I walked past her, she attempted to touch my dog and I said to her if she doesn’t back off, then she will see what real madness is. Imagine a visiting family will sit on that very bench shortly after she leaves.
On the Kingston jetty, a homeless man moved in and took over one of the benches that are there for users to sit and enjoy the seawall. He has covered the bench with large pieces of plastic. He has been there for two years now. His presence there detracts from the ambience. No one, it seems can move him. Will things change in 2025? I really don’t know; after all you are talking about Guyana.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.