Dear Editor,
Am I naïve in asking why could some of the clean-up in preparation for the 50th anniversary celebrations could not have been done before? As a Guyanese now domiciled on foreign shores, I was previously on many occasions forced to listen to myriad remarks about the once former Garden City. I was always (and still am) proud of the land of my birth, and often boasted to many of the sights and splendour of the place. However, when native after native returned from visiting their former homeland, reporting of the garbage strewn streets and alleyways, overgrown bushes, ill-maintained trenches and gutters, edifices that cried out for a paint application or a new facelift, I was forced to let a silent tear flow unchecked down my cheek, while trying to wrap my mind around likely causal factors.
Seemingly the folks back home had become inured to the revolting sight, but could the government, Mayor and other officials be included by extension? Now here we are putting a show on for a multiplicity of visitors, natives, etc, some of whom would be returning home for the first time after many years, although confessedly there is a lurking angst as to what would have been the state of affairs if the celebrations had not been taking place this year. Better late than never, I guess, or is it better soon than ever? The past is the past; we are now on the road to the change that is somewhat tardy to say the least, but nevertheless, it was what it was. So as we prepare to celebrate our country’s independence from Great Britain, let us as a nation resolve to not only show but maintain our greatness. I am calling on the government and city officials to put in place personnel, police, people, policies, procedures, protocols and penalties to ensure that the city as it will be seen during the Independence celebrations would become the norm. Punish all who display any proclivity to let the land lose its glitter on account of litter.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
