Dear Editor,

Something must be wrong with the Georgetown City Council. Could you imagine that our country is celebrating its 43rd year of Independence and yet none of its famous municipal buildings such as City Hall or the Stabroek Market carried a single banner or decoration?

This is unbelievable! In capital cities all over the world preparations for their patriotic celebrations begin weeks before. Always, municipal landmarks and buildings around town sprout large banners or lighted designs.

What is their Public Relations Department which citizens pay millions to maintain, doing? Surely they could have written ‘insights’ in the newspapers and magazines on Georgetown’s progress since independence, and challenges for the future as well as discussions on what the founding fathers would think of various conditions in our capital today. Why couldn’t the council in collaboration with neighbourhood associations coordinate special activities for the neighbourhood children, even if they had to request donations from homeowners to sponsor games and prizes for the children?

Also again with neighbourhood associations, the council could have organized a clean-up of the various wards in the city with drains swept, weeds cut back, debris burned and public areas repainted. Couldn’t some extravaganza be held at the Independence Arch in Brickdam on the big day?

I did not even see the City Constabulary represented at the event at the National Park on the eve of Independence; the ceremonies were led by the President and Prime Minister and attended by the cabinet, the Mayor of Georgetown, military brass, diplomatic corps and honoured guests. Could they not even be a part of the military that was out with all its brass in shining, standing smartly at attention in their dress uniforms?

This must clearly be a reflection of how ailing and worn-out our city’s mothers and fathers have become after fifteen long years of squabbling and personality clashes, without achieving a single thing to be proud of.

Yours faithfully,
Carlton Canzius