A death certificate
is something one should be able to obtain in one’s own village,
as it used to be done in days of old when there used to be an area
registrar of births and deaths.
Now, as we stake our claims for developed country status, we have
taken simple things, and things that could be done simply (in 1-2-3)
and converted them into complex rocket science formulas.
Why does a mother, a single parent, who just had her baby, and lives
at far away Cedros, have to leave her home (with her child in hand,
because she has no one to look after her baby) and go to San Fernando
for a birth certificate?
Within the corridors of power, within the inner sanctum of the think
tank that is supposed to exist in that hallowed place, there isn’t
someone who could come up with a simpler, more humane alternative
to this situation?
The problem with Third World inferiority complex is the belief that
the simple way is too reminiscent, too evocative of olden times;
that it is just too backward, too old-fashioned to do things simply,
regardless of how effective it might be.
Out of that mentality comes our delusion of grandeur, our claims
to First World status, even though we lack basic amenities: clean
and regular water supply; decent roads, reliable telephone service
etc.
There is nothing wrong in reaching for the stars, what is wrong
though, is while we make our astronomical stretch we forget to do
as DJ Casey Casem always advised: Keep our feet on the ground. So
that while we nurture and cherish our grandiose plans of skyscrapers
and golden archways, we could still try and put out a road repair
crew to patch a pothole here and there that is really a humbug and
danger to motorists and pedestrians.
So many little things could be done, at a rather low cost too, that
could go a long way in making life easier, and more tolerable in
this country, but are ignored.
And why?
Because there really exists the view that if we build skyscrapers
and are the headquarters for international organisations etc., we
automatically rub shoulders with the best.
The old proverb, building castles in the sky, we should forever
keep in mind, as we embark on the building of new towns, for example.
As construction work begins in this regard the powers-that-be must
rigidly stick to the requirement that no authorisation would be
given to businesses that wish to set up shop in the new towns unless
there plan is to provide adequate parking facilities.
The truth is, businesses are still given the go ahead all over the
place, obviously without having to meet such a requirement.
And what you end up with?
At peak time, rush hour, you have large goods vehicles pulling up
at their drop-off point, which is usually in the heart of the city
or the town, creating all kinds of traffic gridlock, which the business
people and the truck drivers seem totally oblivious to.
They have a delivery to make, and the businessmen have a quick buck
in mind. So to hell, who vex loss, who is inconvenienced, well too
bad for them.
In short, we are not going to solve the traffic problems in this
country with just the creation of new towns.
It is going to take some vision and planning.
And then some more.
Are we ready? |
