Funny that I keep recalling Lord Nelson’s hilarious but insightful calypso, “she saving that for company”, since the “Georgetown Enhance-ment Development Pro-gramme” and all related im-provement operations began.
Perhaps it was even before the capital’s urban facelift began. It could have been early last year. Or when the Region-wide far-reaching Cricket World Cup Sunset legislation was crafted, foisted then passed by our Parliament. What am I going on about today?
Just another favourite theme of mine in these columns, on my television show, at the refreshment clubs and elsewhere. One version or element of that theme is: “We respect other people’s laws -but not ourselves.” Then there is the element that flaunts our famed “hospitality” which I know is often informed by Lord Nelson’s sentiments, lament and insight, that “she saving that for company”.
I elaborate on my social concern: to me, a combination of historical learned/forced behaviour of submissiveness, humility, dependence on others, being “nice” to others – and our “natural” hospitable disposition, have all conspired to make us victims of our own self-contempt; our low self-worth and lack of personal esteem. Sometimes! Especially if some persons never exposed themselves to strong characters, inspiring role-models and proud citizens of a nation – here locally, or overseas.
Frankly Speaking, to me, too many of today’s generation of Guyanese (between 30 to 45 years old, say) look outwards for their standards and models even though still having to be resident within our borders. Many, who can’t enjoy other people’s excellence, disrespect themselves and our laws here.
Nowhere before did that strike me with painful significance as when two years ago, I participated in an educational/Public Relations Pilot Project in Solid Waste Management in two sections of Guyana’s capital, George-town. It was pathetic, disgusting, futile, stressful, and depressing – everything negative to experience this generation’s contempt of self. No sense of garbage disposal, eating amongst flies and rats; yards unkempt; spitting and urinating anywhere, littering – and waiting for the city council and “De govament” to keep their own surroundings clean.
Sure, we uncovered official neglect, the authorities’ failure to provide basic amenities and services any normal civilized social deserves.
The City Council’s ineptitude actually often threatened the effectiveness or success of the Pilot Project but too many “citizens” were/are just indifferent to cleanliness George-town remained unclean even as we persevered with the young. Which brings me to January-February 2007. And the preparations for our leg of the cricket world cup in our Guyana.
Getting Clean for others
I’ll be the first to appreciate the courtesy of respecting guests and visitors by preparing and maintaining high, appropriate standards for them. And I have mentioned before the Guyanese penchant for preparing for and hosting others – our “hospitality”.
As Lord Nelson laments: “(like) she saving that fuh company” meaning that his wife – Guyanese and West Indians – reserve(s) the best crockery, linen, food and accommodation for guests, for visitors, for rank strangers. Nothing wrong with providing your best expression of love and respect for guests. But not at the expense or exclusion of your own! There is nothing wrong but everything right about preparing for and providing your very own with the best. Does not your own deserve excellence? On their own merit? So by now you’re figured out my drift. I say it took the imposition of rules, requirements – and tough, unprecedented legislation to make our authorities decide to provide from traffic lights, clean surroundings and repaired roads to loans for house-holders who indicate they want to host bed-and-breakfast guests for the international cricket period.
They’ll tell us that circumstances have now allowed opportunity, timeliness and funding with which to provide all that we – as deprived citizens of a once-pristine capital city – wanted to be proud of; however basic those facilities are. Do you buy that? Was it only funding that deprived us of good roads, bridges, running and cleared drains and some order around our main city squares? I know money was a problem but the truth is the conflict between government and municipality, the ineptitude and crass inefficiencies of City Hall and the general, now cultural attitude of indifference, apathy, even sabotage – all combined to deny us a desirable level of excellence any people deserve.
Now that the ICC standards are required government and municipality have suddenly mobilized and galvanized into productive action. We “saved the best for company” despite what the President declared at the hotel’s opening this past Wednesday. External forces prompted our current blitzkrieg of beautification and necessary infra-structural works! But hey, I welcome the lovely onslaught – stresses, foul-ups, mistakes and all.
Mashramani Mix 2007
Forget the real reason, the external motivation, the timing. Clean up the city! Regularize, Beautify Stabroek! And all over GT! Regulate the Bus Parks. Remove Eyesores – According to the By-laws.
But just as you are assisting potential Bed and Breakfast hosts to effect home improvements, lend assistance to bona fide long-serving vendors to beautify and sanitise their orderly facilities too.
Republic and Rebellion challenges: How long ago did the Berbice Rebellion take place?
Name the Dutch Governor of the Berbice Colony in 1763.
Name three slave leaders of the Rebellion?
Welcome to the Super Duper Buddy’s International!
Hail Hector! Beginner composed “cricket lovely cricket” not Kitch!!
Merry Mash til next week!
