Dear Editor,
The “broken windows theory” stems from an article written in 1982 by criminologists James Wilson and George Kelling. Their theory states that signs of disorder will lead to more disorder. A building with a broken window that has been left unrepaired will give the appearance that no one cares about the damage and no one is in charge. Social psychologists tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. One un-repaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing. When doing community revitalization, to send a strong signal of change and reform, one of the first things you do is to repair broken windows! It’s a symbol and message of change.
Broken windows and vandalism are still prevalent because communities simply do not care about the damage. Regardless of how many times the windows are repaired, the community still must invest some of their time to keep it safe. Residents’ negligence of broken window-type decay signifies a lack of concern for the community, and is a clear sign that the society has accepted this disorder.
Under the broken windows theory, an ordered and clean environment – one that is maintained – sends the signal that the area is monitored and that criminal behaviour is not tolerated. Conversely, a disordered environment, one that is not maintained (broken windows, graffiti, excessive litter), sends the signal and message that things being broken is OK.
The theory assumes that the landscape and environment “communicates” to people. A broken window transmits to criminals the message that a community displays a lack of informal social control and so is unable or unwilling to defend itself against a criminal invasion. It symbolizes the community’s defenselessness and vulnerability and represents the lack of cohesiveness of the people within. Neighbourhoods with a strong sense of cohesion fix broken windows and assert social responsibility on themselves, effectively giving themselves control over their space.
The “broken windows theory” has applicability, but in Guyana, we need to call it the “broken toilets theory.” In Guyana, instead of broken windows, it’s broken toilets everywhere – in education from nursery schools to high schools to university levels; in health facilities; in government offices; in restaurants; in gas stations; in churches and private homes and businesses; in public facilities such as markets, stellings, parks, stadiums, etc. – broken toilets are the rule rather than the exception. A visitor to Guyana will conclude that Guyanese don’t care about toilets being the nastiest, smelliest, decrepit, broken, and dysfunctional places. This is horrible, shocking, and unacceptable!
My wife Dr. Julie and I have observed that Guyanese don’t care about missing toilet seats; missing covers on the toilet cisterns; broken or malfunctioning flushing handles or no handles; toilets not flushing; toilets used but not flushed after use; toilets with no running water; toilets leaking and wet floors if there is running water; toilets without toilet paper, paper towels and soap; toilets without seat covers; no washing sink after you have used the toilets; toilets without bolts or locks; toilet doors that do not close; broken or missing toilet doors (even in school toilets); toilets with graffiti on the walls; toilets without lights; toilets without mirrors; poorly painted toilets, and nasty, smelly toilets, with equally dingy floors. The cleanest toilets we found were at the President’s State House and at the Jagan Dental Center.
We are of the view that the toilet should be the cleanest place in a home, school, office, or building. It represents you, your standards, your values, and your quality. If someone’s toilet is poorly kept, I would doubt that person’s standard of sanitation in food preparation. I don’t eat street food for the simple reason that I don’t know the standards of sanitation of that vendor. It’s almost cultural in Guyana that it’s OK for toilets to be the nastiest places! No one seems disturbed by that. This is such a backward thinking and mindset.
Hello Guyanese, how about if we ensure that all toilet spaces must always be clean and toilets are always repaired and functioning! Let’s all use the toilets responsibly and not vandalise anything. Let’s end the Third World mentality and start repairing all toilet spaces, and build more toilets in public spaces. I remember living in Abu Dhabi/Dubai where they would have workers stationed in the toilets in the malls. A worker would spray and wipe the toilets after every use by customers. They valued cleanliness in the UAE and clean all the time. Guyanese can and must do better! Let’s have a campaign to mend all broken toilets. Which Minister will step up? (You don’t want Nigel to steal the show, do you?).
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall
Civil Society Advocate
