Sunday, May 22, 2011

Progress?

A letter-writer in KN stated that Today, people can go to the bank and use their homes as collateral to secure a loan to purchase a car."  And that was an indication of progress.


Well  that must be progress indeed as in an earlier Blog  (http://gtobserver.blogspot.com/2011/03/advertising-needs-and-wants a friend had noted that people were getting cars before accommodation; but really have cars and designer goods replaced the trinkets of beads and baubles given to the 'ignorant' natives of the past?  Burnham must be right when he quoted the 19th century's French critic's observation "  "plus ça changeplus c'est la même chose " (the more that changes, the more it's the same thing).

I don't think I can better the reply of the person who brought it to my attention and apologize for copying -   
'you're a blithering idiot. Fancy cars on the road as a sign of progress? What about less crime, corruption, drugs, poverty, violence, and more empowerment, self sufficiency, jobs, education, healthcare, running water, electricity, etc? Have some higher expectations, people!


I give credit- there has been more running water, housing schemes, even more electrification than say five years ago, about the rest of the issues I don't feel qualified to give an opinion because yes, you have more 'doctors' in the system but I feel they're less qualified, but really with lowering the standards - like entering to do medical-based courses with  CSE's - maybe the wrong people are doing the courses. A Mid-wife said to me that she thought better screening of medical students were necessary and that before entry they should know what being a doctor entails and perhaps trail a Medic/Registrar for a week to revise their expectations.  Though to give credit, the few local students I know who went overseas to do further degrees appeared to cope with the work and did quite well! Lack of readily-available statistics means it's hard to make a judgement on how well the policies are working.


Quick addition:   I have noted, also my friend who helps people to start their small businesses, that a big hurdle is POOR ENGLISH - yes-- people are both unable to enunciate their needs and to express it - therefore a lot of time and effort is wasted by bad communication, thereby stressing out the principal who is forced to Micro-manage and check that the minions have carried out the instructions properly. The annoying thing in Guyana is that they are so well-dressed and spoken that one is fooled that they actually understand what they are doing-- a master-act in Camouflage!

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