The launching ceremony which took place at the National Cultural Centre was well attended, and had the corporate sponsorship of Royal Castle; Auto Supplies and Company, with moral support and partnership coming from the Ministry of Education, the Guyana Police Force, the Georgetown Municipality and other agencies.

And Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Mr. Brian James, noted that the campaign which is intended for everyone in Guyana, is but "a beginning" in the move to redress the balance of our everyday rudeness, discourtesies, and insultive behaviour that creeped into our everyday conversation and interaction with each other. Having become entrenched, it has now become 'second nature', he said, and accepted as the "rule Rather than the exception."

The net outcome of this, Mr. James saw as "A crisis in society, that has forced us to declare a War on Bad Manners." The initiative, James said, is but one facet of the many sided mandates of the Guyana Tourism Authority; one that the authority feels strongly about, and which will be given priority in the execution of their duties.

He concluded: "Bad manners impacts negatively on all aspects of life, and contributes significantly to the negative imagine that lingers in our memory, and unfortunately - on Guyana."

The campaign has as its theme: "Towards a more civil Guyana, thank you." Executive Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Donald Sinclair outlined that it is aimed at changing much of the impoliteness, rudeness and coarseness that offend both residents and visitors to Guyana, alike.
Sinclair said that over the next six months, courtesy sessions that target specific audiences in the public and private sector will be conducted. These include public sector agencies, telephone operators, receptionists, officers at the complaints/service departments of the Georgetown Municipality, ranks of the City Constabulory Department interfacing with members of the public, security guards, Police Traffic and Immigration Officers, mini-bus drivers, taxi drivers, private sector employees, among others.

As the campaign kicks off, a team of damsels from the University of Guyana's Tourism Studies Department (who appeared on stage for the launching) will be working with minibus conductors and drivers to help instill new and socially acceptable behaviour patterns in these service providers who daily interface with the public.

With the assistance of the Police Traffic Department, special emphasis will be placed on behaviours on the roadways - speeding, disregard for pedestrians, aggressive driving, excessive use of horns.

The GTA Executive Director also singled out, what he referred to as "disgusting" habits, such as "watering of lamp posts" by men in public, and littering, noting that these, henceforth, will be discouraged.

Another feature of the campaign will be aimed at refining the conduct and approaches of Police Officers, thereby turning out policemen and women who are more courteous and civilian-friendly.

The top brass of the Police Force, being committed to enhancing the public image of the Guyana Police Force, are very supportive of this aspect of the campaign.

Deputy Chief Education officer, Mrs. Jennivieve Whyte Nedd who congratulated the initiative, stated that her Ministry is fully supportive of the campaign, and has already embarked on the publication of a booklet on Manners and Social Etiquette for Students and teachers.

Meanwhile, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Captain Jerry Gouveia, adamant about the many complaints constantly heard in relation to unbecoming attitude or services that leave much to be desired, commended the initiative, but affirmed: "We ... have no choice in this situation. We either get it right or stay out of business." In fact he was of the view that the campaign now being initiated is but "way (100%) behind."

Alluding to the attitudes of tardiness and ineptitude displayed by staff in service industries such as hotels, transportation service, and the like, Captain Gouveia insisted that it was not cultural, but an attitudinal problem.

"It requires an effort (concerted) on the part of everyone of us to correct this," he stated. He condemned discourteous and non-professional behaviour in the hotel industry absolutely, stating that the industry has a "zero tolerance" approach to such attitudes.