By Stabroek News
Dear Editor,
It was with considerable relief that I recently read in the press about the government鈥檚 intention to construct daycare facilities across Guyana. This is indeed a vital and long-overdue initiative, particularly in supporting young professionals who are striving to balance career development with family life. In today鈥檚 society, where it is increasingly common for both parents to work full-time, the need for safe, reliable childcare has never been more urgent.
The benefits of daycare are well documented. Beyond providing supervision, high-quality daycare supports children鈥檚 developmental, social, and emotional growth. Research shows that even children as young as five who attend daycare are more patient and better able to adapt their communication to interact with playmates of varying ages. For parents鈥攅specially mothers鈥攄aycare enables greater participation in the workforce, supporting career advancement and promoting gender equity in professional spaces.
President Ali must be commended for making this initiative a priority in his development agenda. However, the announcement also brings to light a glaring question: What has happened to the daycare centres that were once operated by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown? Facilities such as those on South Road, in Charlestown, Festival City, Campbellville, East Ruimveldt, and Industrial Site were once functioning under the City Council鈥檚 purview.
The Georgetown City Council boasts a history of providing daycare services for more than ninety years. The South Road Day Care Centre鈥攐riginally known as the 鈥淐r猫che鈥濃攚as established as early as 1933. Unfortunately, like many other services under the Council鈥檚 management, these daycare centres have deteriorated and were eventually closed. Yet, curiously, some continue to appear as line items in the Council鈥檚 annual expenditure estimates.
Why has the Council allowed these essential services to collapse? Why must it rely on the central government to fulfill responsibilities that fall squarely within its mandate鈥攄espite continuing to collect taxes and fees from Georgetown residents? Why have the buildings been left abandoned when they could be generating income and providing an invaluable service?
The situation defies logic and reeks of mismanagement and neglect. Instead of fulfilling its duties, the Council appears to be retreating from them鈥攐nly to later accuse the central government of overreach and interference.
The truth is simple and sobering: the City Council鈥檚 failure to maintain its daycare facilities is just one more example of chronic institutional incompetence, and the people of Georgetown are the ones who continue to pay the price.
Maggie Jackson