But what is the War on Bad Manners? Who are its designers and what are the expected outcomes? And where will the War on Bad Manners be fought? It may come as no surprise that the courtesy campaign was authored by two tourism entities - the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. The Tourism establishment has an abiding interest in and concern about people-to-people interactions, for that is the very essence of the tourism encounter. For that reason alone a War on Bad Manners can be seen as attending to the social infrastructure for tourism. But beyond the area of locals and foreign guests, the War on Bad Manners is an effort to make local life more civil and to replace, among Guyanese themselves, coarse, rude conduct with graciousness and politeness.

Even those among us who wear rose-tinted spectacles would recognise that there are many areas of public life that cry out for redress. Our conduct and attitudes on our roadways often bring us close to tears. We crucify other road users with our car horns; we often drive as if getting there is all that matters; those courteous and considerate mini-bus drivers are lost in the crowd of ferocious speed men who see themselves as the kings and lords of the roads and highways. As passengers we casually toss litter from these flying machines and disembark to urinate in full view of earth and sky. And so the story goes on - from the surly, uncouth security guard to the devil-may-care receptionist.

There is, of course, another side to this picture - a glowing side of smiling, polite security personnel, tellers and manages who take pains to be patient and accommodating to their customers. There is, of course, the motorist who graciously stops to allow pedestrians, the elderly or another motorist to go ahead in front. There are those institutions in which the elderly receive special care and attention, and are spared the anguish of having to stand in long queues. There are those Policemen who are meticulously polite to the public and are a joy to interact with.

The War on Bad Manners campaign promises relentless exposure to both sides of the picture. Our discourtesies will be exposed as much as our fine points will be stressed and applauded. In this war home, school, office, place of worship and place of entertainment will be active training grounds. Spectators at a pageant must not be surprised when the MC tells them what is good spectator behaviour. A radio audience should not be perturbed if the DJ asks, in his own rap style, that you be courteous to others and to be gentle on the roads.