Exploitation at the airport

Dear Editor,

On Tuesday, 29th December, I journeyed to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to collect my mother-in-law and the flight got postponed, so we decided since we were already there we would wait the few hours. In quick succession other flights csme in and the airport quickly got busy with people bustling around. Whilst we were waiting in the vehicle, we started to observe men (mostly young) who were poorly dressed following the passengers and the Red Caps. To our amazement, these men would quickly swoop in and start putting people’s suitcases into the vehicles that the passengers were travelling in, and when finished, they requested payment.

I am aware that there’s a job shortage in Guyana and I have no issues when one does something legally to earn money instead of turning to crime, but looking at these men operating I felt disgusted, because when they were being offered $1,000 for their assistance (which was not solicited) they vehemently refused it and requested more, citing how many of them had assisted (sometimes 5-6 of them helped to put 2-3 suitcases in a vehicle). They would start expressing themselves in a menacing manner to the people, which alarmed the travellers who ended up paying $3,000 and above.

As we continued to look on, the Red Caps would also request more than $1,000 from those innocent victims, asking what this sum could do; I guess they are not being paid by the airport. The bottom line is that this is barefaced exploitation! I’ve also noticed a line of yellow cars with drivers neatly dressed with their cream shirtjacs at the airport, but why do they have to approach passengers and ask if the person needs a taxi? A system should be in place so that if someone needs a taxi, they could request it from the airport personnel and he/she would notify the first driver in the line. Why can’t they work in a turn system instead of pestering people as soon as they exit the airport, and even when that person replies in negative, other drivers still continue to ask. Some even push their faces close to the person, which is highly annoying and distracting, especially if that person is looking for their family or friends. Is this what the government wants visitors to experience in Guyana?

Editor, over the years, numerous complaints have been made about our internet providers, yet nothing has been done, and with this change in government I am still waiting to see some results. As it stands presently, we are paying over $2,200 dollars per month for an internet service on our mobile phones, and amazingly, when you expect unlimited access, subscribers in Guyana cannot enjoy that freedom, because if you exceed a certain number of megabytes, you are disconnected. If you upload/download a certain number of videos, you will not be able to use the internet because the chances are you’ve exceeded your allocated usage, even if you just activate your monthly plan.

Over the years, GT&T would majestically introduce some new promotion with regard to their internet service, and in some cases, request an increase for the better service they’re introducing. Many people would immediately jump at the opportunity only to be greatly disappointed a few days later when they cannot find an improvement in the service they are getting. There are many newly established villages that have access to phone lines, and many like Zeelugt, EBE, which are without, even though Zeelugt is a very populated area. Over the years, the residents have gotten all sort of excuses, with one PPP/C Councillor going around before the election asking the residents to sign some form and then the PPP/C would ensure they get landlines if they are elected, so residents should vote for them.

Owing to the lack of telephone lines, many people who depend heavily on the internet opted to get the service of the various wireless providers, and they have had to pay an astounding $5,000, $6,000, or $9,000 for the monthly service. Because I mess around with computers, many of these subscribers would ask me to check to see if anything’s wrong with their computer and when I tell them the results, they would start venting their anger at the provider and the government. I have tried personally many times to speak to the manager via phone and in person, and always get an excuse. I have reached the point where I am contemplating getting a list of the users in various villages and taking it to the PUC, but I might end up going into a losing battle. It’s hell when trying to open yahoo mail and the Stabroek News online edition. Is this the kind of service our President is asking people to come back and live under?

Finally Editor, it’s with great disappointment I have learned the new rule which GPL is forcing on commuters. For a long time now, those with post-paid meters have been asking for pre-paid meters, only to be told that they don’t have them in stock. If one is uses a pre-paid meter these new rules could not be enforced, but then again, amidst all the promises that this government made whilst campaigning and has failed to fulfil, they still see it fitting to inflict more hardship on Guyanese although they reward themselves with a huge salary increase. This is surely a good life for all!

Happy New Year as we brace ourselves to see what more we have to endure.

Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates