Imagine waking at 6 am, turning on the tap and there is not a drop of water. One would imagine that these are tales from destitute places. Perhaps a place where war has destroyed the hope, will and courage of the people; or one where the hands of imperialists have slowed the progress or crippled the nation. But not here in 592; not in this beautiful country the rest of the world envies because of our oil finds and being the fastest growing economy. Being deprived or uncertain about a necessity like water, should not be a story coming out of Guyana in 2024.
There are several images across social media of the dirty water flowing through the pipes of people across this country. It is hard to imagine that these are some of our realities in this time. There were several times this week when I turned on the tap and not a trickle could be seen. I thought about hell and heaven being on Earth. Are we the Guyanese people being punished?
There is nothing the Guyana Water Incorporated can say to us that is an acceptable excuse for what we the people must endure. Perhaps if they admit that they have failed us and that they are unable to provide the nation with reliable and potable water. We have complained about it all and still, the situation worsens. Daily we watch the excuses and updates about why different parts of this country are experiencing low water pressure, dirty water, or none.
Why are some people not fired in Guyana when it is obvious that they cannot function in roles they have been appointed to? Why must we the majority suffer because of a few who are put in positions that they are unfit for?
The fact that people are constantly complaining about the poor service we are receiving, but the situation is worsening, is telling about how the safety, mental health and comfort of the Guyanese people is regarded.
Having 1980s problems in 2024 is not progress in Guyana. It is not enough however that we are grappling with little or no water or that which is not clean. When one decides to step outside their home, the smell, the flies, the dogs, the cats, and the rodents are all present because of the build-up of garbage. The last time garbage was picked up in my area was about four weeks ago. It is disgusting to not only see overflowing bins and garbage strewn in the street, but around the country there is a build-up of garbage. Is this what progress looks like? Is it in the best interests of the Guyanese people when central government starves the city of funds?
The sporadic one-day clean ups are not enough to keep this country clean. Those in positions of power who smile for photo-ops because they picked up two pieces of garbage during the one-day clean-up campaigns are not heroes. I often wonder if those who boast about the great progress we are seeing in Guyana, walk around Georgetown especially? Do the tourists see what we see?
The capital city is where many ministries are and the homes of the president and prime minister, yet there are parts of the city that stink. Perhaps it does not stink where they live though. Perhaps they do not see or endure what the average man endures for tinted windows and speeding vehicles can blind one to many things.
Our health is at risk in Guyana because of these inconveniences. We are grappling with a heatwave but must also grapple with the foul-smelling garbage waiting to be picked up for weeks and the anxiety of not knowing whether there will be a gush or a trickle when we turn on the pipes.
Increasingly we are seeing mentally ill youth on the streets, but we must wonder about the mental health of many Guyanese who suffer in silence and have been unwillingly conditioned to think that it is acceptable for us not to have reliable water supply, or that it is okay for garbage to sit for weeks in the streets or that being in a cycle of stress is normal.
Of course, we cannot leave the Guyana Power and Light out of our daily sufferings. They were quick to say that they were not responsible for the floodlights going out at the National Stadium this week which affected the cricket match that was being played. GPL however are not heroes. Sometimes one wakes in the middle of the night doused in sweat because GPL continues to be a company fuelled by incompetence. The frequent blackouts affect productivity. The excuses about birds, the failing power ship and the lack of accountability are enough. These companies cannot praise themselves or believe that they are serving us the best way they could. They must acknowledge that they are doing a poor job.
We are paying millions for a power ship that has not solved the blackouts. Maybe the government can impress us and give us one generator per family because it does not look like the issues with GPL will be solved anytime soon. However, we remember the corruption during one laptop per family so maybe one generator per family will just be another opportunity for those who believe only they deserve to live a beautiful life, to steal.
Life can be wonderful in Guyana. We love our country and the beautiful things it has to offer. With visionaries, fairness, justice and equality, Guyana can be one of the most beautiful places to live. However, we must deal with the reality. Some delude themselves to say that all is well in Guyana because greed and self-interests is what motivates the actions of some humans. They pay a blind eye to the collective suffering once their pockets are filled, or their positions of influence are secured.
We must be honest about the suffering of the Guyanese people. We who must put up with daily inconveniences that are making life almost intolerable. Guyana is becoming an increasingly difficult country to live in. It is not because there is no hope or potential to grow here and have one’s dreams fulfilled, but it is the inconveniences that stress us daily.
