Dear Editor,
I am a frequent reader of your papers and reside abroad. I am at present in Guyana on vacation staying on Aubrey Barker Road. Three things have got me worked up since I am back: the garbage, the parking chaos in downtown Georgetown, and the minibus death traps.
Every morning I am disturbed out of my bed by passing, speeding minibuses; they must be going close to 120kph on Aubrey Barker Road and you would think that they are at the Indy 500. These buses are packed way past their limit. Even on rainy days you can hear them going at the same speed. What is really going on in this country that we have a public transportation system with drivers who have no respect for the lives of their customers?
One evening I had the experience of travelling in a minibus coming down the East Bank Road. The driver handled the bus as if he were a plane taking off on a runway. Everyone in the bus was silent as if they were immune to it. After speaking up, then some other folks started to voice their opinion and objected to the way the driver was driving.
The next morning I was awaken from my sleep again as minibuses flew past my house. Even if you are two corners away you can hear the engines on these buses singing. In the nice cool afternoons that make Guyana a paradise to just sit on your porch or verandah, you will have the buses doing all kinds of stunts as you entertain friends. This needs to change. I hope the authorities do something about it.
The garbage situation and parking in Georgetown are also shameless. Why don’t they address the garbage problem and create some kind of a parking system so visitors don’t have to park on Croal Street to visit Regent street. Shame on you city council and Hamilton Green.
Yours faithfully
Collin Macall
Colin, Unfortunately the minibus is the scourge of the Guyana roads. Allegedly owned by many policemen and sometimes driven by them.
Irregardless of ownership, many of them have no regard for the laws and the police don’t do enough to curb them. Overtaking on the inside, outside into oncoming traffic, illegal lane changing, breaking traffic lights and major roads and the list goes on – there is not enough enforcement of the traffic laws so breaking them is rampant.
SSDD
The mini buses are the people’s choice. Stop blaming the hard working bus operators for providing a service that the public demands.
You need to see the new bus park that they created. That is the biggest joke on the citizens of Georgetown. The place is filthy and you can smell stinch from a distance. Some news media outlet need to do a story on that.
Just returned today ( June 29th) from a visit to Guyana and I am not in favor of the new bus park…looks dangerous, untidy and the list goes on.
There are certain parts of the city that needs cleaning. There is garbage thrown around. However, I am impressed with the new bridge they made at the corner of Vissenger road.
Come on. You sound like a drowning man/woman clutching at a straw. That bridge..damn.
Georgetown is stink,stink stink. Np parking,people sleeping infront of the entrance of parliament building. KVC right on the 42 park has the biggest rats around. How can the authority allow such business like this to exist in the heart of the city.
Disgusting…and shameful that Stabroek News, Kaieteur and all the other news media don’t even mention the horrible state that this city is in.
Wow you are impressed by a bridge… Jagdeo will love you ha ha ha…
There is so much that has gone wrong and broken et al.
There is no maintenance of any public structure in Guyana.
Why did the governments let the country go so low?
Do they ever stop to think why tourists aren’t coming in the thousands to Guyana.
They need to take notes from Barbados… tons and tons of tourists going there!
Population and land is pretty significant! Barbados pay for some of that land in Guyana to do grow some food. They don’t like Guyanese. Why should we be so comfortable putting Guyana down in favor of that piece of land they have call a country?
At least the maintian their land. What does Guyanese have to be proud of?
Hey Boeing777, you can’t compare Guyana to Barbados. First of all, Barbados is not a dictatorship. Also, the only things that Guyana has more than Barbados are population, land and crime.
You should see the bridge that she is impressed with. A village bridge. Georgetown is stink, congested and looks like a slum.
They nick named Stabroek area a few years ago “Jurassic Park”. When you go there you will notice that it is living up to it’s name.
I have to pass that car park everyday, and damn that place is a shame. Any tourist coming to this city will revolt at the mere looks,muchless scent of that place.
WHo is responsible for this?
Woman – read between the lines – yes its the peoples choice – but a lot of the minibus drivers are madmen – and I maintain that they are the scourge of Guyana’s roads – the evidence/history speaks for itself.
I want you to travel in them every day if and when you ever go back to GT – miss speak from afar(as I do yes, but I just been deh!!)
Madame, I don’t believe it’s me you’re buising. OK?
For your information, I travel to Guyana 4 times minimum per annum. Therefore, I am well qualified to speak on issues from a-near and not afar.
Thank you.
I agree with you… Georgetown was once the Garden City. Now look at it…. it’s swimming in a sea of garbage and the sewers are overflowing all around GT. Walk around and smell the stench of raw sewage in the city core. It’s repugnant. It’s shameful for visitors to come and smell this peutrid stench in the capital. Shameful is putting it mildly… it’s criminal to have a capital city in such decay!
The GoG speaks of tourism. Yeah right!!! Who wants to visit such a filthy place. Get real GoG! I rather go elsewhere.
Also, Barbadians are proud of their land. Everywhere you go in the country the people are courteous. I have walked around GT, no one says good morning or any courteous remarks. Thugs have taken over GT and it’s a shame.