Dear Editor,
I attended the inaugural lecture of the National Assembly’s Governance and Democracy series, fortuitously I must add, but not regrettably. However, apart from the Opposition Leader’s usually impressive interpretation of the period of Guyana’s historical past from 1946 to 1966, there were two other presentations that stood out. Firstly, there was former Clerk of the National Assembly Frank Narine’s dream of a multi-complex parliamentary building, with each parliamentarian occupying his/her own office, far removed from the squalor that presently exists when such an august body of representatives deliberates on the future well-being of this nation. Secondly, there was Mr Henry Rodney’s eloquent recital of a poem titled ‘I am Guyanese.’ To suggest that the audience was enthralled was putting it mildly, and it was truly an experience to which every proud Guyanese should have been privy.
Editor, at this moment uppermost in my mind is the seemingly unending lawlessness that pervades our roadways, especially involving minibuses. It is difficult to even be remotely impressed by government’s efforts in a sustained manner, to alleviate the commuters suffering in the transportation chaos. When will zero tolerance mean exactly that? Incidentally, whenever I and other Guyanese and visitors travel to the Corentyne, we marvel at a transportation culture that seems alien to us, ie, the Tapir vehicle.
The question is often asked is where is the vision? Why was the assembling of this mode of travel not sustained by previous, administrations? In retrospect many lives would have been saved, not to mention millions of dollars over the years.
There is a dearth if role models in this country but is there an identity crisis also? The Tapir or as it is familiarly called, the ‘Bush Cow,’ is well known and appreciated. For heaven’s sake resuscitate the assembling of this durable form of transport across the length and breadth of Guyana, in a bid to restore a people quickly losing their pride and identity.
Yours faithfully,
Lloyd Davidson
