AT a time of declining morality, rudeness and sheer aggression that we face almost daily in so many areas of public life, the launching last week of a campaign to promote "good manners" is a refreshing new initiative.
It is bold as it is timely. Some would have preferred a more neutral title to "war" on bad manners. 'Campaign' seems okay. 'War' connotes confrontation. There is already plenty of "wars". For example, on terrorism, narco-trafficking and crime.
But the title ought not to detract from the central message of what the initiators and promoters of the campaign seek to achieve -curbing, if not eradicating impoliteness, rudeness, aggression and, generally restoring a healthy dose of civility in our personal relations with each other as citizens, as well as visitors to our shores.
Like so many aspects of life, good manners, being respectful to elders, leading by example begins at home, that central classroom of learning for all of us.
If delinquency, rudeness or questionable moral behaviour are ignored, if not tolerated in the home, then they are quite likely to be mirrored at school, the work place, shopping or centres of leisure.
The launching of the campaign by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, at the time in his acting capacity as President, may have been originally motivated by a desire to upgrade Guyanese preparedness for an expanding tourism sector with visitors from various parts of the world being encouraged to come, see and experience the natural wonders of Guyana and the legendary hospitality of its people.
Indeed, the touristic component of the campaign could hardly have been missed with the bevy of beauties from the University of Guyana being mobilised to advance the aims and objectives of the campaign for good manners. The primary sponsors of the initiative deserve commendation.
"Smile a Welcome"
Some years ago, when he served as Minister of Tourism, the Trinidad and Tobago business executive and media entrepreneur, Ken Gordon, thought it necessary to introduce a campaign for the people of that Caribbean Community state to "smile a welcome" to visitors.
Gordon was aware, from his own experience, apart from complaints by visitors, of the impolite, unfriendly behaviour often displayed at points of entry into the country as well as at shopping centres and other public places.
Let's face it: There is plenty of such undesirable behaviour in Guyana today, to the distressing point of overtaking our reputation as a generous and hospitable people that folks elsewhere in the Caribbean so openly acknowledge.
The campaign to restore an appreciable level of civility, to help workers in the public and private sectors to smile and be friendly again, instead of being sour, impolite or, worse, aggressive and obnoxious, is a very challenging one.
We would, therefore, suggest that its conceptualisers and promoters should not discourage themselves by raising too high and too early expectations for success. The Guyana Tourism Authority, as a core partner in the current campaign, perhaps needs no reminder on this score.
Considering how old, traditional values and norms of Guyanese life have been undermined and, in some cases seriously damaged over the years of social strife and political turmoil, there must be patience and commitment to sustain the campaign for good manners, friendliness and restoration of simple decency in public life.
The school and the home, as much as the government, public and private sector agencies and, yes, the media too, are all stakeholders in this campaign. We are all involved.