I was however, able to convince her that since I do not reside in Guyana, I shall make it my duty to get a new one on my next visit there. So the story is that I arrived in my homeland last Thursday and ventured early in the morning to the National Registration Centre in Kingston only to be told that if I did not register for the last elections, then I could not get a new one and I would have to speak to the Minister of Home Affairs in order to obtain one.

I have worked with the same Ministry for more than five years prior to migrating in order to attend university and have since decided to work in the region. I went to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking to get some kind of help because I am traveling to the US very soon and do not want to encounter the same problem, of course, I have the option of using my passport but I prefer to use my ID card.

The Minister's secretary informed me that he only sees the public on Wednesdays although I explained to her that I was only there for one working day that being Friday 22nd. I then sought the Permanent Secretary upon her advice. However, to make a long story short after waiting for about 25 minutes I was told by the PS's secretary that she could not see me and I was sent to another officer who told me that what I wanted had to be dealt with by the PS or the Minister. I have since concluded that the PS did not want to speak to me after I made several attempts on the telephone to reach her but she spoke with a good friend of mine who is a reporter concerning the matter.

I do not understand and I am absolutely disgusted with the response that I got from the authorities in my own country of birth. It was most disheartening to know that something as simple as obtaining an ID card had become a 'political issue' and one can no longer travel home and obtain an ID card until there is an election. I have never heard such piffle and as one of my lecturers would say 'that is the epitome of nonsense'.

I got so angry that it was the first time in a decade since traveling home that I called the airline and took the first available flight back to my destination with a 'bitter taste' for the situation and the politics in my country.

It is a situation that I have since instructed my secretary to have us follow up with the Minister of Home Affairs. Could it really be true that someone cannot obtain a new ID card until there is another election? Is this the kind of thing that is occurring in the year 2002 in my homeland?

I trust that I get some response from the Government when I do write to them concerning this matter.
Samuel Legay
Attorney-at-Law