Dear Editor,
I had to pass a specific place several times before an epiphany came. Chalk that up to age, environmental cobwebs, and the general slow pace of things here; these can be contagious. It was that an area discovered has to be the safest most civilized spot in Georgetown, if not all of Guyana.
It is neither parliament (too much bad behaviour by bad influences), nor the courts (a menacing mall of miscreants, and not only on the defendants side), nor schools (a hostile environment), nor houses of worship (ongoing contradictions and conflicts among churchgoing comrades). The safest most civilized place in Guyana may not even be the home, as many are scourged by the barbarity of domestic violence in some form or the other. If it is not any of these treasured places, then where else can this safest, most civilized place in Guyana be?
Editor, it is situated in the small square (could be a rectangle actually) that is bounded by Albert Street to the north and south, and Fourth and Lance Gibbs Drive on the west and east respectively. This particular patch of Guyanese macadam is graced by speed bumps at each of the cardinal points. These bumps are broad and high; they make mandatory a near full stop from each and every direction. And as if that is not enough, there are traffic stops, as in major roads, mere feet beyond. Further, there is the frowning presence (depends on the point of view) of the Alberttown police station right on the edge of all of these traffic convergences.
The tight gathering of these obstinate yellow-striped zebras has succeeded where legislating, preaching, cursing, exhorting (and all the rest) have failed. They pull one and all up, and introduce them to their senses, or what is left of them. Ignoring the unmoving settled zebras can be expensive, even for the smart money people.
Thus, the hogs hesitate; there is not the usual headlong Gennesaret rush for oblivion. The vulgar discover religion: thou shalt keep the Sabbath holy; the problem is that speed bumps are not known to take any rest; the Sabbath is every day for them. So, men slow down and bow down in homage. Last, the coarse and criminal-minded become law abiding at that junction. Yeah, lambs and lions lie down in civility and mutual appreciation.
In view of all of this happening in this quiet corner of Guyana, I will be clever enough to recommend to the traffic powers that that four-sided perimeter cordon (through four-point speed bumps) be replicated throughout Georgetown. This could bring an end to all driving. It might reintroduce drivers to walking. Now nothing could be greener than getting back to that basic. It just might teach the rest of the populace some manners and some discipline.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
