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'End of street protests' decision
must be applauded IS it true? That the PNC/R and its leader Robert Corbin have had a rethought at their recent General Council, the highest body between Congresses, and no longer wish to resort to street protests as a form of action owing to the unfortunate results that follow? If
this is so, then most people, including their own members and supporters,
will applaud this decision, as the entire community suffers in one way or
another from such street protests. As a
vendor selling on Regent Street, I have been a victim of two such
protests. After my husband died in a car accident, I left my office job
for a "hustle" because, at that time, I needed spending money
more regularly than once a month to maintain my three children and myself. I
was saddened by the situation that was developing between the City Council
and the vendors. But I knew that the Mayor was concerned about how street
vending was affecting the business people who were complaining, and the
nasty condition in which many undisciplined vendors left the pavements at
the end of the day. I
must say that the Mayor was kind enough to allow some of us who were more
disciplined to continue operating on the pavements. I was happy because I
knew I would still be in a position to attract sales. Then
came the street protests. Sometimes we would get enough time to close up
and hide our things before the protesters came through. At first I thought
that the problem was just between the government and the opposition, so I
never bothered to close up. But then the protesters started taking away
goods from the stalls of everybody, not just the East Indians. They
had no mercy, and if we talked for our rights, they would take more of our
goods and also knock down our stalls. A vendor who was Black like me and
sold next to my stall was slapped by one of the men, when she said they
were taking advantage of poor people like themselves. After
all this bitter experience, I vowed not to vote for the PNC again, or for
any other party, until the two main parties get their acts together. When
I was told that the PNC Congress came to the decision not to hold street
protests again, I was a bit skeptical, since I did not hear it myself. But
if it is true, that is a good thing. I wish I had heard it myself, but I
think it was the right decision. It is not fun for a poor person to have
to replace capital without making a profit, so I hope people will begin
cooperating with each other to get our country moving again. I
always tell my children to be kind to everybody, no matter of what race,
because I received assistance from people of different races when I had to
cope with the sudden death of my husband in a car accident. My children
and all other children will grow up to be better Guyanese if they can live
in an environment where peace and harmony are our nation's watchwords. Monday,
February 23, 2004 |
