“Mediocrity”? That refers to low, moderate ordinary standards or quality. Even that might be too high, too generous to describe the state of our capital city Georgetown, in truth, the extreme noxious language I wanted to use in my lead caption would have hardly passed editorial standards or sanction.
You see, having lived in Georgetown for some seventy-seven (77) years, it upsets me mightily to witness almost wilful and criminal deterioration of the infrastructure, landscape, cleanliness and aesthetics a lovely town was once known for. Five-letter words assail my civic consciousness – from “sweet” to “stink”. And I often ponder: how much am I to blame for my city’s downfall? What brought all of this about? Two developments quite recently.
The Republic’s President just led a city clean-up last week-end. Photographs and all! And the Mexican firm suddenly, after years, is suing somebody regarding the abortion of a parking meter project for GT.
Now as an aggrieved citizen who has never left Georgetown to live anywhere else, including other people’s cities, I know this is but another in my series of lamentations regarding our capital. But just when I thought I’d be guilty of sharing or unloading my continuous grouchy disgust of a senior with too many others uninterested or indifferent, I was actually encouraged to do this. So here goes!
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Slowly, surely mediocrity enveloped G.T.
It’s often suggested that some types of comparisons are not appropriate, unnecessary, even odious.
So I’ll spare the “showing off” about my seeing, spending time in scores of cities and towns throughout CARICOM and the wider world. But I must consider just what made/makes those places – in both rich developed countries and in small island states – so orderly, organized, clean – and proud to be so? Yes a combination of creative, pre-planned and legally enforced factors. Which our Georgetown long abandoned and now does not boast.
Not wishing to live in our city’s once proud exemplary past, I’ll just recall that we actually had town planners. But new uncaring generations with no civic pride, haphazard construction by the powerful rich; shortsighted demolition or filling up of vital drainage facilities and yes, the intrusion of raw politics into the city’s municipal government all made for today’s collapse.
Quickly, the defenders would point out to me that Georgetown’s suburbs have encroached unto the inner city; that out-of-towners break G.T.’s by-laws with impunity; that PPP governments “boycott and spite” the city because the residents are not usually pro PPP; that Georgetown is below sea-level; that municipal legislation is too outdated to afford the city management its just rewards and incomes. All accurately true!
However, to me frankly speaking, the combination of three major factors resulted in today’s Georgetown’s misery: firstly, the post-independence city municipalities, including one administered by one mayor H. Green – “for life” – did not utilise the revenues and measly subventions wisely. I recall one audit uncovering endless mischief. Secondly, old and matured citizens, sensing the PPP government’s reluctance to support city managements because of some valid anti-PNC suspicions, developed a fatal lack of civic consciousness; dumping, littering, blockages, no self-help, mired a once clean thriving capital. Thirdly, as most recent editorials, letters and analyses have all reminded: local government of all towns, neighbourhoods and districts must be recognised by a central government committed to training and assisting with resources minus political considerations. Revisit my three reasons then check the following practical recommendations.
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Georgetown: What is to be done?
I cannot accept the suggestion that the President embarked on last week-end’s city wide cleanup with his mind on local government elections. Even though some Georgetown communities now boast “traditional” PPP–friendly residents, the President will appreciate that politically, Georgetown remains pro-PNC. So why the presidential effort? You tell me.
What’s needed now is that the private sector whose entities are Georgetown–based; the Local Government Ministry; civil society appropriate representatives must collaborate to hold the city council management openly accountable as it utilises trained personnel and resources to bring back Georgetown.
Two more ideas: infuse a few well–trained Guyana Police Force members into the municipal city police for a few months. And identify a reputable international company to install parking meters for a properly-run corruption-free city council. Do you-all realise that hundreds of meters charging minimum hourly fees all year round can contribute to the city council becoming financially comfortable? What’s your hopes?
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Overseas Guyanese, local oil revenues
Just some provocative thoughts for later debate. Wherever they now reside overseas Guyanese who were born here are still full Guyanese citizens. Their foreign-born children and (even) spouses also “qualify” to be Guyanese. So if they live abroad as resident-aliens permanently – and dual citizens – are they entitled to share in our oil-gas profits?
We all know why our friends migrated. Some of us would probably not be residents still if we had acquired appropriate visas long ago. But we stayed. So who is more entitled to our imminent oil wealth? We who stuck it out for decades? Or our overseas citizens who helped out? Discuss…
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Ponder seriously…
1) Identify six abandoned spaces and buildings around G.T. What could be done with them by the State?
2) Hail new PNC leader Aubrey N! He wants public service workers and pensioners to receive more! Great stuff!
`Til next week (allanafenty@yahoo.com)
