Dear Editor,
Recently we saw again, another senseless murder of young Guyanese at a wedding house party in Albion, Corentyne, and perhaps it is time that the powers-that-be take a hard look at this out-of-control culture that has developed, particularly (but not exclusively) among the Indo-Guyanese community.
Editor, wedding houses across Guyana have evolved into drunken, out-of-control bacchanals of loud, obnoxious music and behaviour in mostly rural neighbourhoods, with little or no regard for the law, especially noise nuisance laws. Law-abiding residents are forced to put-up or shut-up with these episodes, often out of fear, and depending on your neighbourhood these can be an every weekend occurrence.
Law enforcement most times is reluctant to respond to the madness of these alcohol-fuelled, music episodes that go on late into the night, and calls by disturbed residents are often times ignored. It is alleged that some police ranks display complicity with this type of behaviour by turning a blind eye in exchange for some form of favour.
Editor, worst of all is the fact that these events seem to attract the worst personalities in a community who are drawn to the atmosphere of lawlessness and revelry.
Should law-abiding citizens put up with this out-of-control excess in our communities because of culture? I would like to think that the rule of law should prevail and that wedding houses must maintain an acceptable level of decency and compliance with the law or risk being shut down or worse, fined. Citizens should not be made to live in fear and wonder what events will transpire late at night as young men (often underage) get drunk and high on various drugs.
This matter has now gripped every part of our nation and has become a terrible stain on our culture. This has no doubt contributed to the degradation of many neighbourhoods and communities. Law-makers and security czars must be bold enough to acknowledge a volatile situation before it gets worse, and give this problem serious attention.
I would also recommend that our duly elected officials look at the problem holistically and not confine it to wedding houses, but rather address the culture of excessive alcohol consumption in our society. Drinking parties that inhibit traffic along major public roadways and access points should be severely restricted and business entities encouraging such should immediately be forced to stop, fined severely or cease operating.
Our youths need messages of positive reinforcement, with more billboards announcing the dangers of underage drinking, and more radio and TV airtime educating the public about these various afflictions in our communities. Pubs should be regulated and the regulations enforced, and there should be a much more stringent police response with patrols to enforce curfew times for wedding houses. Residents should not be told that the police station does not have a vehicle or they must make a report in person to the GPF.
In closing, I believe we must not waver, compromise or lapse in our effort to take back this country from generations of social decay, and this requires bold decisions and strong leadership.
I pray and hope that our leaders see this too and give this matter the attention it deserves.
Yours faithfully,
A Persaud
