It angers that it takes forever to do simple transactions in Guyana

Dear Editor,

I’m not one to seek favours here in Guyana. Favours here are generally a “lil sumting” to grease the palm. It is grafting or bribery to help speed up business through the labyrinthine processes that I firmly believe are created to frustrate, wear down and tire out those accessing essential services. This frustration, I also believe is what lends to the corruption that is endemic to the system and Guyana as whole. Many of the instruments that manage, staff and access the public agencies are complicit in making it what it is. No one wants to wait an inordinate length of time to conduct the most simple business transaction. Business that should be a 15 minutes turn around gets tied up and bogged down in archaic processes, and while strides are made to alleviate issues of access and improve efficiencies, those who are entrenched in the system seem to work counter-intuitively, and or for their own gains.

What system works like this? I went to the Licensing Office at Camp and Lamaha on Monday, April 4th for a simple Vehicle licence. It is now Saturday and I still don’t have it. On Monday last, I was given a lodgement receipt and assurances that it will be ready the next day. On the subsequent days, I was told to return the next day and the next day and the next day. On Thursday, I called GRA and a young man told me that it would be ready by 1:00pm yesterday (Friday). At just after 1:30pm, access was restricted, the gates were closing and I was made to understand that the office closes early on Fridays. What country functions like this?

It frets me … rather it angers me that it takes forever and more to do simple business in Guyana. How in heavens name do these public agencies expect someone to travel from Corentyne or Essequibo, or any far flung areas of the country to Georgetown, only to be told to come back tomorrow and the next day and the next day? There has to be change. There has to be a cultural shift in the various public agencies with emphasis on professionalism, business etiquette, quality of service and the integrity of the system. Guyana can never be the country we dream of unless these diseases that plague the system are eradicated.

Sincerely,
Jay Mobeen