Dear Editor,
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds recently reminded residents of what he described as a bad period of shortages, low wages, poor electricity supply and high inflation which prevailed during the late 1970s up to the early 1990s. These were the conditions that the current government met when it gained power.
Guyana is still undergoing repair. The damage that was done for almost three decades has left some bad cultural traits. One thing that I still hate is this bad approach to work. I recall one day sometime in the 1980s, I went to the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) on an arranged recruitment possibility and no one came to meet me. One gentleman told me to sit and wait and he never came back. Being young and scared I stayed for the entire day, wasting some seven hours.
Another incident took place at one of those many outlets that formed part of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). The place was quite lifeless and the person who was supposed to be in charge just locked up and went off. I asked one person there as regards the waiting factor, and up to what time I should wait. I was told that it was not certain if this person would come back. I think we have significantly improved in this area of work ethics.
Recently, I had to go to the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and I arrived just after seven in the morning. To my pleasant surprise, work was full in operation. It was also the same at the Housing Ministry when I turned up just a bit after the starting time.
I have complained against the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), but I would be untruthful to say that it was better in the by-gone days. I recall wanting to go to the cinema, but the blackout thing used to deter me. The stretches used to be like for eight to 12 hours too. People seldom bought plenty of fish and meat for storage and I still meet a few of my friends who had their meat business totally wrecked. The night before I wrote one of my General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE ‘O’ Level) subjects, we had an all night power cut. So in that regard alone, we have come a long way.
Do I need to go on to the massive food crises back then? Talk about no flour, split peas and tin stuff and I still shudder. How about slaving at Hope for a pint of oil and a few cigarettes, even though some did not smoke? That ancient régime I hope is totally dead and buried. Another term from it and Guyana too would be buried.
Kind regards,
Reginald Hamilton