Dear Editor,
One Sunday last year I heard a radio programme on the Fire Service whereby a senior officer was saying that he had paid a visit to Linden, and being informed of the type of system that was used by the Fire Service many years ago when it was managed by the Demerara Bauxite Company (Demba), thought it the ideal system they would like to put in place.
Then not so long ago in speaking with an elderly woman, she began reminiscing about her early years when she first visited Mackenzie/Linden.She said as a child she lived abroad with her father for a period before returning home. Then on her first visit to Mackenzie she immediately liked the place; there was order and system and she appreciated the entire layout of the community as was run by Demba; all public utilities were up to standard and efficient, and everything seemed so organized and worked like clockwork. The community, she said, looked so healthy and peaceful; it was the only place out of all other parts of Guyana she had seen that fitted in with where she lived abroad. There were the well laid-out drains; the lights came on at precise time; there were no mosquitoes; the Fire Service hydrants were all over, strategically placed. It seemed everything was well worked out, meticulously planned. Indeed those white folks did a fine job. And so long before her vacation was up, her mind was made up about where she wanted to live ‒ but of course, that was over fifty years ago.
Now, what that elderly woman spoke about is definitely not so any more. Mackenzie/Linden has made a complete turnaround. But as I observed, Linden is not unique with respect to “things fall[ing] apart”; this state of affairs is pervasive throughout this land. Like the man said, “It’s a time gone not coming back.” Almost every area of service: the Fire Service, water supply, transportation, drainage and irrigation, electricity, road construction, record-keeping, health, postal service, education, the police service, judiciary, sports, the municipalities, natural resources, administration/ communications, etc, gradually went under. When we took over from our colonial bosses we didn’t last very long; things ran adrift before they finally came to a halt, thus chaos, confusion, frustration, mediocrity and lack of professionalism became the norm. We are still struggling today to restore these.
Just why did so many of these institutions that were functioning so efficiently buckle when they fell into our hands and made many long for a return of what used to be? We have witnessed the obliteration of quality standards as if it was a cancer. One could understand a nation coming into its own and struggling to find its footing and maintain stability ‒ as we say, ‘creep before yuh walk’ ‒ but it seemed we never quite got into stride, even when genuine efforts were made to revert to what we once knew. They seemed as difficult as if we were attempting something new for the first time. It was as if the old progressive system had disappeared into thin air. We wanted to be captains of our own destiny. Fine! That’s what ambitious, progressive leaders advocate: a people charting and pursuing their dreams. Thus we designed a beautiful flag, and wrote a motto, pledge and anthem that enhanced our pride, self-assurance, determination, endurance and dignity. And it goes without saying that when we replaced our former bosses we took over their portfolio, their status, their houses, the soothing emoluments, and all the other trappings that go along with the position of command, and of course more than anything else we took over their sense of self-importance. But unfortunately what was not equally matched was the high performance of the entities they once administered.
As mentioned above, the institutions that the colonials left us were in fine shape, and one example is the bauxite company. When it came to efficient performance I’d say that Demba took the cake. One witnessed there management artistry par excellence. Every worker would be promptly informed in detail by letter of his/her state or that of the company and its intention. One of the most incredible and ridiculous stories I once heard bandied about by folks ‒ not from the mining town ‒ was the reason for the company’s failing performance after the colonials left. It was said this was because before they departed they buried a set of earth-moving equipment and destroyed documents, blueprints, etc. Now here we are today in 2017, and in spite of the huge advances in technology, new and better systems replacing obsolete ones, we have not seen a corresponding leap in higher quality performance of services within the various entities except for a negligible few. The daily irritation, vexation and naked stress are so palpable that one wonders aloud just how they keep functioning. People still get the royal runaround, with long, agonizing waits, being told to come back tomorrow, next week, next two/three weeks for a simple transaction like a slip or form to be signed or picked up, or a document to be endorsed by a manager who is always at a meeting. Or maybe it’s goods to be posted, some kind of infrastructure to be done, or some sort of utility component to be installed in your home, or a certificate to collect. Heaven help you if it’s a cheque to be endorsed.
How many more years must it take before we can manage our affairs in a proficient manner like once used to be the case, having the benefit of advanced technology. Can anyone say?
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
