Dear Editor,
I write on the subject of the GPF using the Spanish word “Policia” instead of Police on the Force’s vehicles. This, as the Vice President said, marks a misguided caption by the Police. I would go on to say it was an ill-advised caption, and one that should not have been used in the first place.
We are an English-speaking country, hence our official language of communication, our norms and operations, should be in English. We may have labels in other languages used to accommodate the other language speakers, but that is the exception to the rule.
Let me tell you a story, a true story. Recently, I walked into one of the clothing stores on Regent Street to purchase a belt. I purchased that belt and, shortly after, enquired if the store provided service in putting additional holes on my belt. A gentleman then approached me, and in broken English asked if I am the person who needed help. I immediately recognized him as a Venezuelan national, wherein I replied in Spanish – I told him exactly where and cuantos – how many holes to put. He replied in English. When he was finished, I asked him in Spanish how much was the cost? Throughout our encounter, he never spoke a word of Spanish.
I do not know why the evasion in not speaking in his native tongue, probably he did not want me to detect him as a foreigner, maybe thinking I would report him to the authorities as an illegal immigrant. But the message I would like to convey is the people’s ease of blending in to our English-speaking Guyanese society.
So, again I repeat: the explanation the GPF gave as regards non-nationals being able to recognize law enforcement is weak. Anyone, national or non-national, hearing a siren, or better still seeing the written word “Police”, knows fully well that it is the Police, the two words are too close in resemblance. And from the story I outlined above, they pretty well know and understand.
Further to the GPF’s clumsy move is the fact that here we have a Spanish-speaking neighbour that is hostile towards our country, one that lays claim to two-thirds of our territory. In this regard, the GPF should be ever cautious and vigilant in the message they are sending to Venezuela. We cannot make mistakes at this late hour.
Quit playing the semantics game, it is dangerous and misleading, to say the least, at this time in our history, when our territorial sovereignty is at stake.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
