The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is experiencing difficulties with the timely delivery of mail owing to problems with its fleet of vehicles used to transport the mail, the corporation’s Board Chairman Juan Edghill disclosed on Monday.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Edghill said that the corporation has a “universal service obligation to deliver the mail to everybody, everywhere, every time.” The problem, however, was getting the mail delivered on time since the fleet of vehicles in use by the corporation was very old. This problem, he said, would be resolved within the next 30 days during which relevant concessions would be approved paving the way for new vehicles to be purchased.

In the release, the chairman said that ideally mail that is posted around Georgetown before 10 am on any given day should be delivered by 4 pm the same day and to an interior location by the next day.

The prompt delivery of the mail is also dependent on the transportation network in Guyana.

Residents of East Berbice will be able to receive their mail in a more timely manner when the Berbice Bridge is completed, Edghill noted. The corporation at present depends on the ferry service to deliver mail to that area, while for Essequibo and Bartica the “speed boat” service is utilized.

Unlike other companies the mandate of the corporation does not allow it to choose only economically viable areas to operate, the release stated. Its services extend to the Berbice River area, the Mahaica and Mahaicony creeks and all hinterland locations. The service schedule for hinterland areas, however, varies according to the needs of the community.

The chairman said that he would encourage large businesses with a high volume of mail to utilize the mailbox service offered at the Post Offices to ensure prompt delivery. Most of the recent problems experienced by the corporation affected some residents along the coastland where there is a greater demand for its service, the release added.