On Monday of this week, during one of the Georgetown City Council’s usual inconsistent sporadic, “law-and-order exercises”, the “single-parent” pavement vendors – all female to “a man” – let go their normal protest-anthems.
“Is fifteen years now we selling hay”, “I deh pon dis Regent Street spot fuh eleven years now”. “De constables does tek money from we – official an oddawise” ; “we is single parents look how lang we deh pon de road right hay…” And so on. And such like.
In today’s brief offering, I seek to make a single but basic point, perhaps obvious to only a few. And it has to do with why the vendors and many citizens can have little respect or regard for authority, for laws, regulations, even “guidelines”.
To me, Frankly Speaking, the relatively recent genesis of national disrespect has evolved from two main sources: the enforcement compromise whereby most laws are not enforced or (are given the blind-eye for “a raise” even when there is an attempt to enforce and, secondly, the daily, seemingly institutionalized inconsistency by the highest ultimate authorities – from a club, to a village council, to a municipality, to the government itself.
I’m so reluctant to ever discuss the disgrace that passes for a city council of Georgetown these days – (there is evidence, allegedly, that some officers there misappropriate even the limited resources they are allowed currently.) However, their “enforcement” makes my point vividly.
From the decades-long pavement vending to the arrangements for those same types of vendors and stall-holders on Robb Street or in the Stabroek Bazaar, there is no consistency! One day they are allowed, next day they are harassed.
The poor, misruled group must be confused by Georgetown’s municipal ad hoc, spontaneous rulings. Who then can blame the vendors even if they are breaking by-laws, when the Council itself allows them to do so?
It is a municipal mess-besides the real actual garbage (mess). Other cities teach and enforce simple orderly rules: registration, enforcement criteria, ultimatums, rigid hours of work, alternative days for permissible selling, etc. etc. What’s wrong with us? The legacy of lawlessness, (started since PNC government, then worsened by the defiance against – and engendered by – the recent PPP, weak-willed administrations) has become ingrained in the poor people’s consciousness. Already it is “traditional” to break every City Council By-law!
Poverty? Need? Regularising lawlessness
The legacy of lawlessness is no different where the “even higher” level of government order or authority is concerned.
The breakdown in enforcement, from street level traffic-violation, to customs-requirements, to official housing scams, is now a given. Exemplified, to me, by the issue of squatting.
Many years ago a University of Guyana acquaintance, a Mr Scott, guided me with an assignment I had to do directly related to the social phenomenon of squatting. I learnt of the origins, causes, nature and characteristics of that reality. What became clearer to me, besides poor people’s basic needs, was that far too many welcomed the freedom and “freeness” squatting offered. The giant Sophia had both political and housing implications.
Those who already owned or rented homes squatted. Those who knew that illegal occupation of space would be regularized, squatted. Others who guessed that central or local authorities would offer them alternative space, squatted.
I learnt of genuine dire need, but I saw where and when law-breakers relished setting up shop on other people’s unoccupied spaces, or on embankments, verges, reserves, even parapets. Instead of being removed instantly, or early, they were actually allowed to acquire water, telephones and electricity. Years and years after, they were deemed “illegal” and warned to remove. Now who’s to be blamed for “protest”? Discuss…
GAWU’s Congresses, Labour…
Still the largest labour union and bargaining agent within the Caricom, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) always impressed at Congress time.
Its numerical strength, relations with employers, international status, even local political affiliations are all on show.
I salute this 20th Congress, just concluded, with these questions and observations: what do you readers know of Guyana’s Labour Movement? Do you know that “organized” labour is actually under threat here, as in some American States bent on blunting union representation for American Public Servants? Quite a few employers are hiring workers on contract. Others are turning more and more to technology and mechanization. Fewer full-time workers, weaker/lesser unions.
After all the fine hopeful speeches about hoped-for- local trade-union unity could not GAWU instruct its parent body FITUG to publicise differences and demands which prevent full, executive solidarity with the rival, little TUC – Trades Union Congress? Consider and discuss…
Just imagine…
*1) Not the little Regent Street vendors, but the Big Businessmen on Middle Street, west of Camp and on Quamina, west of Main, who park huge vehicles carrying onion, potatoes and fresh fish, should be looked at! Obstruction paid for?
*2) Just who’s sending our Guyana Cricket teams to Regional tournaments?
*3) I wanted to represent what I knew of the Ministry of Sport’s sterling efforts – current and potential – at the development of sport here. But that Ministry’s Sports Director Kumar presents me with clear and present “dangers”.
*4) A Tale from the Linden blockades: The “People” were voluntarily and spontaneously manning the several blockades for the thirteenth day. Some fellas found it most lucrative. More than they ever made per day. Families pleaded and paid to be given ingress and egress.
A top “supportive volunteer” was purchasing four bags of rice for the protester’s meals. When he explained who sent him, he paid only for two bags!
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
