Dear Editor,
I was told by security personnel at the Regional Democratic Council Region 4 entrance that I needed to cover my arms in order to access the building and receive service as a visitor. However, nowhere in the compound is there a sign with the so-called dress code for visitors and none is displayed on the fence. When I asked the guard to show me the dress code, she was unable to. After covering my arms as required with fall/winter clothing I was allowed access to the building where I enquired about the dress code before getting to my matter. No VIP was available to entertain my questions only the receptionist. She said that there wasn’t any displayed in the compound but the guard has it in her mind and asked me if I would go to church in sleeveless outfits. I responded to her by commenting on the secularity of the state and the RDC being a state agency.
I was told to speak with another employee which I did. She said that people have to know how to dress when going to government places and disregarded my concerns about the absence of a dress code and the fact that the RDC which serves all members of the general public should not be engaged in discriminatory acts. In Guyana, are state agencies in the same league with places of worship? Guyana is a secular country that has a tropical climate and high level of humidity. Most persons dress for comfort and weather. Due to the fact that the dress code at the RDC resides in the minds of employees and the guards, discrimination occurs. After I was told that visitors with sleeveless outfits are not allowed in the building, I went to the Accounts department. Two female visitors in sleeveless outfits were there receiving service from the clerks. While I don’t care about what others wear, I do have an issue with body shaming, being treated differently and embarrassment.
The purpose of my visit to the RDC building was to find out from officials at the Accounts department how certain figures were arrived at on a document that was issued by them. Three times I visited and still I’m waiting for an explanation of the calculations done which really should have only involved addition, subtraction and percentage; simple mathematics. I’ve been told to visit again. The option of dealing with my issue via telephone or emails was not offered or maybe is non-existent. There is 100% efficiency at policing women who are probably deemed as having exceptionally sexy arms and other body parts yet the jobs that people are paid to do at state agencies is not done with the same amount of gusto.
Sincerely,
Narissa Deokarran