Dear Editor,
From time to time, attention is rightly drawn to our litany of traffic plagues, such as speeding, drunk driving, dangerous use of the roadways, and so on and so forth. Those can all result in serious injury or, worse still, what is deadly. But there is another aspect of road conduct that has not caused a death (yet), but is alarming in its frequency, and the high likelihood of it deteriorating into confrontation, brutality, and the usual caustic social flaps that rock and rupture us without effort. The problem is parking in the capital city.
Parking in any street of George-town, in any residential area, in what were once ‘out-of-the-way’ places because of their isolation from the hustle and bustle is now an exercise in hair-pulling frustration, spiraling anger, and the venting that I have either observed or overheard on too many occasions for comfort. The barbarians could be men, women, young, old, the sleekly professional, or the goonish and thuggish. Too many Guyanese park anywhere that pleases them: on the bridges of citizens, which blocks the movement of that resident in any direction. Guyanese park in the middle of busy city streets to carry on conversations, or to buy food from street side vendors; sometimes, it is to tinker with their phones. Whoever has to wait will wait; the line behind can be long, the horns loud, the curses pungent, none of those matter to the offending driver, who is unconscious and untroubled. Guyanese double park as if it is their right, leave their vehicles unattended for hours, and trap those seeking to get out and move on. I am aware of this happening around the Georgetown Hospital, where citizens may have had some procedure done, and on readying to drive away finding themselves unable to move. They usually have to go to the expense of a taxi, and return for their vehicles towards the end of the work day.
Editor, there is another ingredient that compounds the vulgarity, discourtesy, and almost constant instances of the disorderly that now characterize Guyana’s roads in the city. Those who are blocked, trapped, or held up by uncaring drivers who park however they feel like, and wherever they desire, find that when they object, the perverse and putrid boils over. Men become hostile and aggressive; they exhibit the same abrasive and abusive features that are now so much an inseparable aspect of our national culture. All Guyanese should know what I mean. The language is pungent, the postures threatening. Things threaten to get raw in a hurry if there are different types of citizens in the mix.
It does not surprise anymore that drivers, whose parking habits infringe upon the rights and peace of those who follow the letter of the law never offer a word of apology; or manifest any degree of contrition. I think that such would help to defuse ugly situations. I have a soft spot for those who sneak a quick park, and return in a few minutes. But as for the ones who stop and shop, park and then bark, are wrong and then strong, there is neither patience nor understanding. My recommendation is for private businesses to be licensed to lock and remove those who uncaringly and recklessly block the homes or businesses or way of others. I heard that the Guyana Police Force has a small team dedicated to dealing with parking offenders’ vehicles. It would be constructive for that unit, if one exists, to be widely publicized and beefed up, for it could become a self-sustaining business. Fines alone and holding fees could make errant drivers start practicing some discipline, and show some regard for others.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
