Customs officer at GPO waltzed into work very late

Dear Editor,

I am a working woman. I am required to get to my office at 7:30 a.m. each day.

Yesterday, I visited the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPO), Georgetown to uplift a package. I arrived promptly at 7 a.m. and the gates were not even opened as yet. After they were opened I proceeded to the requisite section of the Post Office to uplift my package. I handed my slip to the Post Office representative who was there and she informed me that the Customs Officer has to sign the slip and he was not there as yet and I would have to ‘hold on’, which I did. After approximately half an hour had passed, I began to get restless and irate. Don’t these people understand the importance of being on time? I got very angry as I was already late for work. Upon inquiring what was the hold up, the Post Office representative told me once more that I had to wait on the Customs Officer, and told me that she would not be able to say when the Officer would come in. At 8:40 a.m. he finally strolled into the office with his newspaper and signed my slip.

Now, how can you say you are open for business at 7 a.m. and then come into the office at your leisure? Does the public sector tolerate such behaviour? The GPO opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. with an hour’s lunch in between from Mondays to Fridays. For those who are working, it will be difficult for them to make those hours and many would find it comfortable to visit there early in the morning to conduct their business. This is a flexible hour and allows persons to avoid any hassle. But I see this will be difficult considering the lackadaisical behaviour and the disrespect for time on the Post Office and Customs representatives’ part. You are being paid to work, so therefore you must work!

I am making an appeal to the governing body of the Guyana Post Office to look into this. Strict measures should be taken for those who report to work late. If you do not want someone to waste your time, you should not waste another’s time either. Time is of paramount importance and must be respected.

Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)