The last quarter of 2006 shows how lovely, inviting and alive this country could be if we do not have the ghost of political instability hanging over our head like the Sword of Damocles. The historic peaceful election set the tone for the rest of the year. There was fear and trepidation before August 2006. Thousands in Guyana were in limbo. They didn't know if they should go ahead with business plans. They didn't know if they should book an early flight.
It was the same feeling across the oceans. Guyanese in the Diaspora who had eyes set on investments in their home country held back. Those wanting to visit loved ones feared the traditional post-election aftermath where mayhem and conflagration take over the capital city. Then the moment came. The results were the quickest in recent memory and winner and loser promised to serve Guyana faithfully.
Political instability did not accompany the 2006 general elections and Guyanese at home and abroad decided that they would make the last quarter of 2006 a joyous and wonderful period.
The month of November indicated in a large way that the Christmas season was going to be a swashbuckling one. Downtown Georgetown was a driver's nightmare. The Christmas shopping spirit was truly on. The “City Mall” added to the coruscation. The mall contains an escalator service - the first for Guyana – allowing thousands to shop in style.
Long ago, on Christmas Eve night, downtown Georgetown was a human jungle. The authorities allowed stores to be opened until 20:00 hours so that by 21:00, there was a mountain of people trying to achieve last-minute buying. By 22:00, stores were winding down. You were home by that time with your presents. In 2006 this situation changed unbelievably. At Camp and Regents Streets at 01:00 hour, there was a huge traffic jam.
This was in the wee hours of Christmas morning, yet stores in the shopping areas were opened. It was an unbelievable sight. Stores were allowed to be opened until 20:00 as they always were. But in the beginning hour of December 25, people were in stores still making their purchases. Traffic had come to a standstill at a major junction. Surprisingly, the traffic ranks than manned that area the entire day of December 24 had disappeared after 20:00. They probably anticipated that the rush would have died down an hour or so later. There were completely wrong.
If the Christmas period was a good one for Guyanese then that festive mood ran into the ‘Main Street Big Lime', held on Boxing Day. It was one of the largest turnouts since the event started, perhaps the biggest one to date.
Happily this year's joy on Main Street didn't have a repetition of last year's. Readers will recall that a young man was robbed and shot dead in front of revelers. How such a thing could have happened in full view of thousands, showed the bestial levels that human beings can descend to. The suspect in that alleged murder has since been charged.
There was however a moment of unease for the Big Lime party-goers on Boxing Day. The police spotted a wanted man and had to resort to firing off several rounds in the air to make their point that they intended to apprehend the person, dead or alive. The shots sent participants running wild, looking for safety, just as in the previous year's robbery incident.
Barring that, the Big Lime 2006 was yet another huge sign that Guyana and Guyanese are coming back to the idea and the dream that this country must be made into a place that is a proud spot on the Caribbean horizon. From all that we have seen since November, Guyana looks like it is returning to its rightful place in the sun.
There were admittedly two disappointing moments.
From as early as September, flights into Guyana were all booked. Some Guyanese didn't make it to be with friends and loved ones. One hopes there isn't a repetition of this next year. It brings into focus, the need to resuscitate the national airline, GAC.
Secondly, there are persons up to this time without their luggage. This newspaper knows of one passenger who arrived minus every single piece of luggage and has no clothes but the ones she had on her physical person on her arrival. This is unacceptable and the airlines must do something about it. But are they?
From what we heard, people are getting the “royal runaround”.
We urge the airlines to treat these people with dignity and compassion. After all they paid you to get them here.