Dear Editor,
I am very concerned with the new advancements in security in Guyana. Many Government departments are following the trend of heavily tinted glass, whereby one cannot see the person to whom they are communicating. This is most common in places where there is a cashier. It becomes very annoying when you cannot see the person to whom you are speaking. For example, I had visited the airport to pay for parking; I was very disturbed by the huge black glass at the cashiers’ point. Not only at the airport but also at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Peters Hall and the Post Office on Alexander Street, Kitty. This is happening at a number of places where we have had security slackness but now it seems as though everyone has gone “security crazy”.
Instead of fostering security, this form of mechanism can lead to much more catastrophic, fraudulent activities. A receipt could be issued that is fake. The customer would not be able to identify the person who handled the financial transaction. To the authorities concerned if it has not occurred before, it will happen and we may not be able to identify who we did business with.
This form of behaviour also has a negative psychological effect on customers. In my opinion it displays a form of anti-social behaviour and unfriendly customer relations or rudeness on the part of the administration of the Post Office and other such places. It is not only annoying but as a customer I feel estranged and uncomfortable because I cannot communicate with my Guyanese citizens. I have a way of smiling and chatting and spreading joy. I do understand the security consideration, but whatever security mechanism is put in place, it must not appear that the department or business is unfriendly.
This ridiculous tinting that prevents you from communicating with the other person makes it seem as though we are living in a crime-ridden society. However, when we visit the bank, which deals with billions of dollars daily and our private businesses we do not encounter such unfriendly tinting, so then why is it that this “tinting madness” is happening at the parking lot at the airport, the NDCs and the Post Offices? I do not like to make a critique without giving a suggestion. Therefore my suggestion is where you have the tint cut a facial size hole so that the person can be seen and can communicate “eyeball to eyeball”, yet install other security mechanisms for example CCTV cameras, grill work, grill mesh, wrought iron grills or wired grills, whatever mechanism that can be used for security should be used but do not cause your business or Guyanese to feel uncomfortable and estranged.
Yours faithfully,
Roshan Khan Snr
