THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHAT IS it with Jamaicans? They are ALWAYS late. Having lived and worked in this country for two years, I cannot recall any meeting, appointment, celebration or event ever starting on time.
I had the dismal experience two weeks ago of holding my son's sixth birthday party. Scheduled to start at 11.00 am, just six children out of 16 had arrived by 11:15. Three didn't bother to turn up and the rest arrived between 30 and 40 minutes late. This lamentable performance set a dreadful example of tardiness, sloppiness and bad manners for our children.
TENNIS COACH LATE
I write this letter as we wait for my son's tennis coach to appear. He called this morning to confirm the lesson would start at 11.00 a.m. It is now 11.45 and there is no sign of him and he hasn't bothered to call to either apologise for or explain his lateness.
Meetings at work routinely start and finish late with invitees often absent without apology or explanation. The impact on performance, effectiveness and efficiency is truly alarming.
Am I being over-sensitive or unreasonably intolerant of others? Am I the only person who thinks this 'soon come' behaviour, and its apparent acceptance by others, is grossly disrespectful to those who care about good manners?
I am, etc.,
ASSHETON J. BOGG
assheton.bogg@cwjamaica.com
Cambridge, UK
Via Go-Jamaica
