THE EDITOR, Sir:
I FEEL compelled to write about the state of service that we receive from public institutions in Jamaica. The first institution is the Passport Office. Last week my mother went to renew her passport. She arrived at 7:25 a.m. She left that office a few minutes to 1:00 p.m. She left at that time only because a security guard, after several hours, discovered she was a senior citizen and allowed her to take her documents inside to be processed.
I am bracing myself to apply for two days off work when it is time to renew mine. The nature of my job requires that I be in constant touch with the National Housing Trust. Just highlighting one instance is enough to drive home the point. After six weeks of writing to an officer of the Trust, without a response, I telephoned and discovered she had not received the letter that was delivered. I have evidence. The officer pronounced that her area was not responsible for dealing with that matter and she would pass the copy letter I faxed on to the correct department. No apology. Several days later, still no response.
The Tax Office on King Street has no fewer than 13 cashier stations. Visit any morning, including a month-end, and there will be no more than three or four persons attending to the public. I tried to license my car recently and a cashier, whose posture and demeanour suggested she was obviously forced out of bed to face the damn people paying the taxes/fees imposed by the Government, declared she could not process my transaction because she (a cashier with a till) did not have change!
The RGD is a joke! And it marvels me how the head of that Department can defend the level of service that her staff delivers in the print and electronic media. Several weeks ago I applied for my daughter's birth certificate online as I have had several unpleasant encounters at Spanish Town. I got a prompt that I would be contacted to pay and collect the certificate. No response. My wife applied for the certificate four weeks ago at the Half-Way Tree Road office. She was told it would be delivered in two to four weeks time. I am hoping we will receive it some day.
I could go on but space is limited. However, just listen to the advertisements, to the message/automated greeting when you call these institutions and they all boast about or say they aim to deliver quality service. When will this ever become reality?
I am, etc.,
RICHARD D. KIDD
richiekidd@yahoo.com
