Dear Editor,
It’s a mad, mad world, and some Guyanese are making it even madder. I was talking to a taxi-driver about the ban on music in public transportation and this is what he had to say.
First he told me about the trickle-down effect, and my God he did make a lot of sense.
The people who sell CDs, especially the push-cart vendors are going to see a significant sales drop.
That means some of them are going to have to close shop or resort to some other means of living. Those that have families are going to find it tough to provide for them. So we can expect a few starving mouths.
Secondly, the many traffic police who are already in the habit of taking money from drivers for infringements are going to have to find another reason to do so. And please don’t tell me Mr Editor, the police don’t take bribes. I want to believe that they collect more monies than the court.
The people that sell and repair tape decks and CD decks are also going to find a drop in business; do I need to expand upon the other effects of this crazy idea? I think not.
However, let’s talk Carifesta. Guyana is hosting, the Caribbean is coming and the world is watching. I think that is what they are saying.
Believe me, half of the Caribbean has no idea what Carifesta is. I spoke to quite a few people from the islands and they have no idea what it is; I am speaking about both the old and the young. Could it be that we’re making a big deal of something that the Caribbean people are not really interested in.
Are we going to see people pour in by the thousands or just a contingent from each island?
I expect the taxi-drivers who can sing will do well; at least the tourists will have an idea what Carifesta is when they travel around.
Yours faithfully,
K Persaud
How were people living before the ‘push-cart’ system? It’s not the end of the world but a beginning of a new one. When I went to college here in the US I had time in the quiet subways to review my study materials or read a book or the newspapers in the train. How can you explain colors to a blind man? I personally hate new laws as I feel it open doors to more corruption. Also it takes away what many now dead persons have fought for for decades. But no law that our ancestors have shed their blood to uphold or deny is broken here. It’s simply a weed that has been allowed to grow and strangle our culture and moral values. It has been taken down for the better of all decent citizens of Guyana.
Fully support your sentiments, the only qualms l have is about the impending Police shakedowns – one rank is report to tell drivers “The court is $10,000, my price is $7,000 you choose” for current infractions and throwing $10,000 a day ‘box’; just imagine how he will be smiling the new edit is assented to.
Since when however, the selfish and self-serving creatures called minibus drivers are so concerned about the welfare of others; if that particular driver that made the observation and analogies is genuine, he can demonstrate this by reducing the bus fare at least for elders and children.
they had GUYLINES. no one was ‘living’ in guyana, people were ’surviving’ in the past.