Amid the daily diet of crime, unprecedented violence against women and children, the divisive and bitter politics that suffuses every part of life and the increasingly oppressive hands of the government and the opaqueness of its business, it is easy to forget that positive things are also happening.
Admittedly, of all the mirrors of society, the media in particular tend to be reflective of a preponderance of the negatives but they do also capture the positives as the under-mentioned cases will demonstrate. For every positive act that is publicized or recognized there are countless others that slip by unheralded and anonymous particularly as the doers seek no plaudits. And that is how it should be; service and good deeds done not for the recognition but because of a happy meeting between necessity and beneficence.
In an economy that is not seeing enough inward investment, yesterday’s commissioning of the GBTI corporate office in Kingston by the Beharry Group is a standout example of faith in the local economy and a commitment to innovation and broadening of services. It is a most welcome addition to the Kingston skyline.
There are other smaller investments which should also be applauded. In an economy generating too few jobs, any new productive enterprise is something to be marvelled at. So when West Demerara businessman Mr Naeem Aziz opened his fruit juice plant and announced that 50 jobs will be created by October it was something to cheer. Mr Aziz remigrated from Barbados to establish this plant which he hopes will enable exports to the Caribbean. Not only will the plant offer another local juice option for Guyanese, Mr Aziz is also creating value as opposed to just simply importing goods for resale. Doing business in this country is not easy as Mr Aziz probably knows and will certainly find out and so his contribution to the economy must be recognized.
In the wake of the fire that devastated the commercial centre of the mining community of Mahdia it was the miners themselves who immediately mobilized succour for the stricken community. Money was gathered from the mining community and donations made. While the government also pitched in, the miners association must be complimented for taking the lead in this matter and immediately committing to one facility that the community desperately needs – a fire tender.
The neediness of this community not only left it dependent on the goodwill of groups like the miners association but also illuminated starkly why local government reform is so indispensable to equipping places like Mahdia with control over their destinies. If Mahdia and many other communities like it had full control over their affairs they would have been able to hew their own trails to basic services and perhaps more prosperity. Sadly, it now seems completely unlikely that there will be local government elections this year so Mahdia and many others like it will have to wait longer for control over their future.
Last week the praiseworthy achievement of young Dawnetta McLean became known to the public. Dawnetta managed to nail down a coveted place at Queen’s College while battling odds that would have left many adults despondent and unable to continue. Despite coming from modest circumstances, having a tricky commute from Soesdyke every day, a bout of chicken pox, a falling blackboard injuring her and gruelling late night studies, Dawnetta triumphed.
What followed was testament to the goodness of Guyanese here and abroad. Following the appearance of the story in this newspaper there was a torrent of offers and enquiries about how Dawnetta could be helped to achieve her educational goals. Her desire for a laptop was immediately fulfilled and there are many other persons willing to help this plucky girl. The internet edition of this newspaper logged dozens of messages of pledges and support and ideas as to how Dawnetta can be helped.
There are many more examples of these positives on a daily basis. The work of charities like Food for the Foor (Guyana) which helped to ease the dislocation of flooded communities in Region 10 last week amid a flurry of other donations is one example. Food for the Poor has been a major source of assistance across the country for many years.
On its annual pilgrimage here, the medical mission Guyana Watch Inc saw hundreds at Patentia yesterday and dispensed medication to persons who could ill-afford them. This annual mission should be congratulated and its work assessed by the Ministry of Health to determine where gaps in its coverage are occurring. The service organizations also continue to do good work in identifying and meeting needs.
While the negatives are there they shouldn’t make us oblivious to the glimmers of hope. For it’s these glimmers which not only help to balance the picture and soften the harsh tones on the canvas they also inspire and motivate others to emulate these acts.
