IF THEY go about it the right way, touts can be a pleasant experience for travellers landing here, leaving or moving around the country in mini-buses manning the public road transportation system.
Most persons, especially after a long or perhaps tiring trip, would not mind paying someone else to fetch their bags or other luggage from the airport terminal to the taxi park or from one bus stand to another.
Women and elderly people would generally welcome such assistance and willingly pay a small fee for the help.
In the process, they would also be helping out those trying to earn an honest living.
The term tout here has, however, long gained notoriety among travellers at ferry boat stellings, car and mini-bus parks and at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.
They are not despised or criticised for the services they offer but for the uncouth manner in which they attempt to go about their business.
The situation has become so unacceptable that the police have launched a campaign against baggage touts at the airport at Timehri and several persons have been arrested and fined.
It is not that the authorities want to put people out of work but care must be taken that visitors, especially those arriving here for the first time, and others are not subject to uncouth behaviour and harassment at the hands of those offering their services for a fee.
Like the art they have perfected at mini-bus and car parks where they vie with each other and swoop on would-be passengers, snatching their bags and other luggage and herding them like flustered sheep to vehicles they are associated with, touts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport have become more of a nuisance than an asset.
Passengers coming off and boarding flights are sometimes all but manhandled in the scramble by the touts – some of them children – to get a jump on their competitors.
It is a situation that could do more harm than good and the authorities have to move to ensure regulations are in place and implemented to avoid any unpleasantness.
People must be free to choose who they would want to help them fetch their baggage or if they want anyone to help.
They cannot be held hostage by ill-mannered `helpers’ whose manner of dress oftentimes would drive away even those most desperate for assistance with suitcases, bags or other luggage.
There must be rules to govern the trade and this becomes even more imperative with the drive on to make Guyana more attractive to tourists.
Given the track record they have established at the car and bus parks and the sallies on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, touts are not likely to be a major tourist attraction – except for the daring and foolhardy.
Touting around can be honest and gainful employment but those who choose not to play by the rules would have to be touted out of the system.