Quite often, cost, funding, simply money – the lack of it – is the cause of sub-standard products and services. The, prolonged, even generational periods of low, shoddy standards become the norm in a community or society.Incidentally, I have reason to believe that many of our under-thirty young people do not even know or realize that a product or service is of poor undesirable quality. Standards which would never be accepted elsewhere. In many instances too, lack of money is not the cause of low standards. Attitudes and years of “second-and-third best” spawn the collective acceptance and tolerance of mediocrity.So what is Fenty going on about today? Well whenever one returns from a stint in another land the short-comings, the indifference, the rock-bottom standards in the homeland hit you in the face and the psyche. From poorly produced mauby or tennis rolls to service at a Demico restaurant, poor or mediocre standards assault your senses. Remember – it is not always about the money being available. Let me explain.
The family habits of cleanliness, orderliness and daily discussion or reading to inculcate reason – to mention just three desirables – should transfer themselves from home to community to nation. Frankly Speaking, in Guyana today home, school and church are failing miserably in the fashioning of individual and national character so necessary for an orderly, law friendly society and State.
All around us, it is manifestly obvious that the State’s agencies, including the Education system, the Public Utilities and even at times, its Parliament, fall significantly short in setting standards of excellence. And that is in the gamut of desirable attitudes and behaviours, reasonableness, language and articulation of clarity, good delivery and composition – and the execution, demonstration and/or appreciation of what should be (only) the best.The result is that today’s young – or “generation” – simply often does not know what good standards are. Therefore mediocrity rules! **************
ACCEPTING, GLORIFYING
MEDIOCRITY
I see others also lamenting our plummeting standards. We write and write, to no avail. So can anything be done to lessen or eliminate mediocrity? What?
First, a brief review of my listing of “acceptable mediocrity,” some three years ago.
I wrote then: “In too many physical areas and aspects of life in Guyana, that environment and ways of doing things have not changed. Or have deteriorated. Just as paddling the canoe is romanticized, poor mediocre service is justified, most times the blame being heaped on money and tradition and not on attitude. So we have opted to remain – and are less than wealthy but law-abiding – must be subjected to cramped, disorderly mini-buses, ugly wooden stalls and “tarpaulin”, primitive training methods in sport, sub-standard food products, unacceptable ferry-boats, even poorly produced colour photographs in the newspapers. The list could be inexhaustible.
In lamenting and agonizing over this state of affairs and national state of mind, I have to watch my blood pressure and ask myself what am I doing to change standards for the better? I and we are guilty. We don’t picket against the delays in road building or substandard new roads or bridges. And I still accept large pieces of ice in ugly plastic bowls when I’m at a club!
What’s the moral there then? Insist on high standards both at personal and official levels. Or take the easy way out: migrate to places where other folks worked for, attained and protect quality and excellence.”
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MASHRAMANI!
CARIFESTA!
So what aspects, issues or themes related to the two festivals should I explore? Fully appreciating that space here won’t allow any substantial dissertation or analysis related to these matters?
Look, every year Mashramani – that celebratory component of our annual Republic observance – is judged for “success” in terms of how vast “the crowds” were at the Float Parade or the number of bands or sponsors that participated. No big problem with that but frankly speaking, I’m bored with that thinking and approach; that “analysis” and judgement.
Crowds, noise, popular participation widespread support all constitute one aspect of success. But as I hinted herein last Friday, these national festivals should leave meaningful, lasting legacies. The real objectives should be insightful awareness, patriotism, the raising and sustenance of standards.
I mean that the Republic Anniversary Calender of Events should result in the raising (sky-high) of standards in Calypso Singing, Chutney, Masquerade, Steelband, Choral Singing; Dance and the gamut of artistic expression. Alas, this has not been happening! And I agree that there should be academic and intellectual inputs into the anniversary events. Region Four’s schedule this year includes – Debating and Quiz Competitions featuring moots and questions about Republicanism and some history of the Co-operative Republic. Right Direction! Let’s have more Republic Anniversary Community Murals, book exhibitions, mini-folk festivals, production of quality DVD’S, music and documentaries about our land, its people and their genesis.
It’s lazy to just christen Domino competitions, Day-of-Sports, Visits to Old People, Bar-B-Ques and Flag Raisings as “Mashramani” Events. These should be usual, normal – throughout any given year. Indeed, Mashramani preparations now expose the systemic, chronic deficiencies of our so-called “Regional system.” But more on that later. More permanent contributions are desirable, however.
The good news this year is, with Mashramani celebrations being a fore-runner event to the imminent international mega-festival, Carifesta, in August, many long-overdue developments are actually taking place! For example, actual practical initiatives have been activated to resuscitate the steel pan and masquerade art-forms. With an eye to Carifesta, the Culture Ministry has invested substantially in training and in new equipment. Great news. Child art, school drama and language study will also benefit from a Mashramani impetus to blossom at Carifesta later in the year.
Also, there seems to be some exciting sponsorship offers afoot to fund specific Mash events. So I’m looking forward to a more meaningful Mash this year. Not merely, the “crowds!” I’ll keep at this every Friday.
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Until
