Foul-mouthed bus conductors, surly public servants and men who urinate on lampposts are just three targets of opportunity that the new War on Bad Manners will be aiming for in the next few weeks.

The other targets are rude policemen, ill-mannered displays by sports personalities, and poor spectator behaviour at pageants and other sporting events. The war is a campaign organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Tourism aimed at correcting bad manners which have reportedly been blighting the country’s tourism efforts.

Director of GTA, Donald Sinclair told the gathering at the launching yesterday that, starting from Monday members of the war brigade, which comprises students of the tourism class at the University of Guyana, will be boarding minibuses around the country and spreading the word of good manners to passengers and operators. He said the students would be appropriately dressed and would also use the time to research why minibus operators and commuters were sometimes rude to each other.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GTA, Brian James said the campaign would redress the rude, uncaring behaviour often displayed by members of the society. According to James, the war would be waged on every front, noting that schools, religious groups, members of the taxi and minibus association, private and public sector organisations and other groups would be put in line.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said there was a need for a more welcoming environment in the country if tourism was to flourish.

“Then let us not spend time complaining about our failures. Let bygones be bygones.”

He remarked that citizens constantly called for a better standard of living but did not know how that was achieved.

He said it was time Guyanese looked out for each other, adding that bad manners were usually displayed among Guyanese and not among Guyanese and visitors.

Meanwhile, Sinclair said people usually looked upon war with dread, but this war was welcomed by everyone. He said one of the war zones was the roadway, noting that the cacophony of car horns by impatient drivers would be put to an end. Besides, contempt for pedestrians, speeding through populated areas by vehicles and the abuse hurled at road users by drivers were all areas which would be addressed. Additionally, Sinclair said the habit of throwing litter from minibuses and men urinating on lampposts would also be targeted.

Other war zones would be the offices of public buildings. He said unpleasant faces, rude reception, long lines and few tellers were all problems citizens encountered on a daily basis.

Special operations of the campaign include a national courtesy week from November 16-22, a school essay competition on manners, manners ‘cells’ will be established in each work place, production of training manuals, a best driver competition and best practices in customer care.

Others who attended the launching yesterday were, Gerry Gouveia, President of Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Genevieve Whyte-Nedd of the Ministry of Education, Willet Hamilton, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Robert Williams. There was also a presentation by the Guyana Police Force.