Dear Editor,
Regarding your news item on the heavy snow that blanketed New York and other states (SN, Jan 27), the freezing weather is wreaking havoc everywhere and taking its toll on Guyanese New Yorkers who are trapped indoors losing a day of work and pay during these tough economic times. Although it looks beautiful on the streets and trees, the snow made it blinding to drive and the train service was interrupted everywhere. Guyanese I have spoken with said they have had enough of the white stuff, although the children seem to love the heavy snow. They see heavy snow getting them a day off school and they enjoy playing in it. Kids fell down and got up right back to play in the snow. People were seen slipping and falling all over the place. Tree limbs snapped and some trees even fell under their weight with the wet snow. Cleaning snow is too much work for us Guyanese accustomed to the tropics.
The continual barrage of snow disrupts peoples’ routine and takes income away from them with businesses and schools closed on Thursday and many people taking a day off again on Friday. We have had six huge storms in six weeks and a few smaller storms as well, and as such we are constantly digging out to make tracks for pedestrians and vehicles to get in and out of the home. Several Guyanese live on my block. They are out shovelling snow as I also noticed them doing on other blocks in my neighbourhood. The beauty of the snow is it brings out the best in Guyanese as they help their neighbours to shovel snow, which is what I did after cleaning my driveway and in front of my home. But Guyanese complained that shovelling is back-breaking. My shoulders are indeed sore and tired. For some, shoveling reminds them of tending to rice (dhan) in the factory, which is not easy work for those of us who milled rice. Some used some of the same rice equipment to clear the snow; a gangaram, scraper, shovel, spade and coconut broom come in quite handy to move so much snow from long walkways. I have been using the coconut broom for years and it is quite effective in clearing snow.
Guyanese youths have been having a fun time playing in the cold stuff with many seen sledding and sliding on cardboard and plastic garbage can covers, as well as engaging in snowball fights. Some even made snow men bringing back memories of Christmas.
The Guyanese students, like their American peers, were quite pleased with the school closures and look forward for more snow forecast for the coming days that will close schools again.
This has been one of the most snowy winters in decades with snowfalls in places that hardly ever receive snow like Florida, Louisiana, South Georgia, and California. Washington DC has had more snow this year than in several years combined, closing down the city on several days and even forcing President Obama to abandon a ride on his helicopter. The city has had a record snowfall for January of about 35 inches and some 52 inches so far for this winter. The snow ploughs and snow removal trucks had to work continuously to make the streets passable and cart the snow to the dumpsites. Besides the snow, there were sub-freezing temperatures and high winds which make going outside treacherous. It was blizzard-like conditions right after Christmas, two weeks ago and again last Thursday.
The heavy snow prevented the Guyanese elderly from going to their regular recreation activities at the Senior Center.
It was a challenge for many to stay warm which can have serious effects on their health. Because elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they’re in danger.
Because everybody has had enough of winter, the hope is for an early Spring and no more snow. Unfortunately, that is not in the weather forecast.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
