Several years ago the Economist magazine carried a report on what is chaos. According to the report, chaos is a state where there is a breakdown of law and order and it went on to point out that Guyana and Suriname were on the brink of chaos.
In Georgetown pedestrians have no rights when walking in Water street, Longden street, Commerce street, High street and so many other areas: Pedestrians are harassed by vendors, minibus operators, jackass cart operators, men who push carts etc. Pedestrians have to literally wriggle their way on the Georgetown streets. Also in Georgetown there are several persons who sell musical cassettes from push carts, these cassette sellers will push their carts around making unbearable noise, ever so often one or two will park in front of a store bombarding the customers and sales people with their noise. Who cares?
On South Road in the vicinity of King street the police have written no stopping but that sign has no meaning to the 40 and 41 minibus routes. These busmen will stop their vehicle on the sign for minutes making noise with their horns and music disturbing lawyers and businessmen in the area (but they don't complain) while collecting students standing there long after nine in the morning.
Only in Guyana, as far as I know, can you have the urban cattlemen's association making the city their pasture, and Georgetown is the only city I know with animal drawn vehicles in this year 2002. In several villages even though the village councils collect household garbage and make arrangements to move heavier rubbish for a fee some residents will dump their garbage any and every where including dead animals. In Grove on the east bank there are those who will throw tires and vehicle bodies in the main drainage canal.
In Guyana vendors show complete disregard for the High Court ruling and are allowed to do so. Talk about chaos.