Dear Editor,
God knows how much I want to be optimistic about the future of Guyana. But how do I be optimistic when I see bad things happening that will negatively affect the future?
Last Friday, on the seawall, I saw four teenagers, all under 16, imbibing alcohol. Three males and one female.
To think that these young people are going to be the future leaders of the country makes me shudder.
If they were drinking beers or Guinness, it wouldn’t have been so bad because those drinks have less alcohol but are just as dangerous to consume at such a young age.
The fact that they were drinking a large bottle of rum was what was so shocking to me.
Do you agree with me that four teen-agers sharing a large bottle of rum is a lot?
What was also shocking to me was the fact that they were imbibing in a public place and weren’t hiding it from the general public.
What kind of society are we living in, where teenagers feel comfortable consuming alcohol publicly and shamelessly? Do you find this troubling? Or am I the only one?
Not far away from the teenagers imbibing, countless adults were imbibing too.
Is Guyana becoming an alcoholic state?
If our teenagers are consuming alcohol so young, how can the country have a bright future when many of the young people will end up drinking too much and will not be able to become productive citizens?
Am I being unreasonable or overreacting?
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
