A national disgrace

DEAR EDITOR,
I am somewhat relieved in discovering that I am not the only Earth occupant, of Guyanese origin, or Kaieteur News reader who was shocked if not utterly disgusted on reading the reported circumstances surrounding the gruesome death of 14-year-old Andy.
Needless to say, his death pokes a finger into the eyes of so many Governmental agencies, not to mention the general Guyanese populace as a whole.  An indictment that is punishable by among other things, a complete and thorough Governmental and political overhaul.
A mantra-like statement that has oft been repeated by Ministers of Government and politicians is that “the young people are the future of Guyana”.  Why is this statement not borne out by actions, instead of seemingly only being used to bolster the sentence wherein it is contained?
Is there no accountability system within the Ministry of Education? If so, can they provide the public with information pertinent to their modus operandi regarding prolonged absenteeism, truancy, drop-outs non-presenters etc?
What contact if any, did the agency have with Andy?  Was he ever enrolled in school? Was his situation ever brought to their attention?  Is the village of Foulis so large that no one was aware of his educational needs? Were there no members of the pedagogical profession resident in the community?
Being a Guyanese, although living abroad, I  am no stranger to the condition known as minding other people’s business, and  I  also know that a good gossip can get around faster than a Boeing747. I guess his business failed the quality test of being minded. Was this due to age, or was it not juicy enough to be passed around?
However, at the same time, did those citizens, yes, the law-abiding, public-spirited, civic-minded, God-fearing citizens, for whom he carried out menial tasks, (rate of payment questionable) not feel that he deserved a better life and as such should have alerted the agencies who could effect changes? Would they have wished this for their own child? Did he deserve to die in the manner he did? Did not the Good Book make reference to loving one another, just as the Master loved us?
Still on the topic of love of love, then this word should never raise its head among those who speak or relate information about Andy, as perception of its meaning is questionable by these people among whom he found himself.
If the way 14-year-old Andy was treated depicts love, then I beg to differ and differ strongly too.  Who can say that they ever took him in, even if he refused? Who among the inhabitants can say that they warned him about his living style and sleeping abode? Let us ponder on Matthew 25: 40 wherein it states that “whatever you did for one of the least of these, brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. Verse 46 clearly states the reciprocal action that would be taken when the afore-actions were not executed—He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Perhaps, from henceforth the Bible-toting Christians can change the manner in which they both read the Bible and carry the Bible.
Has a state of selective myopia, cognitive sterility or insensitive inaptitude enshrouded the Ministry of Education, wherein they fail to see , fail to read, and fail to grasp that the school drop-outs and non-attendees have become the graduates of the crime world, another plague currently afflicting an already beleaguered country?
The Social Services agencies are not off the hook. No way, shape or form.  Sad to say I am saddened at the number of times and situations that have come up in recent times that only highlight their inefficiency. This is just another for the record.  The Ministry of Human Services certainly needs to be a bit more humane, at least in the manner they conduct business.
The Police, and this I must repeat, The Police. I have read and listened to Guyanese reporting their dissatisfaction and mistrust of the members of the long arm of the law. They have come up short here, and very short. If they have been policing the areas at night, have they never encountered this homeless waif?  Or am I to assume and think the way others are thinking, that when they are on the beat, it is not to turn up the heat on crime and criminals.
Do not for one moment try to vindicate them by saying that it is not their job to look under cars and trucks ( I know how my fellow Guyanese think) , but then again those who knew and said that Andy slept regularly under the truck, must have held conversation with these policemen at some point in time. When has sleeping under trucks become the norm?  With whom was Andy seen associating during any regular day?
Too little, Too late. Too many people who knew of his plight and did nothing is certainly applicable to this situation, as nothing can be done now.  The peace that evaded him in life he has now found in death, sleeping peacefully in the arms of his Maker, reunited with his parents.
As a nation we are now called upon to not only make but also carry out improvements that would save other Andys in Guyana from reaching a similar fate.  There is no need for any walks or protests to be held in response to Andy’s death. Instead, we should all hang our heads, search our collective consciences and pray for a greater inflow of the milk of human kindness. That should suffice.  May his face remain forever etched in our minds as being symbolic of a national disgrace.  Rest in peace Andy.

Yvonne Sam. R.N MEd. BSCN