Conversation with a transit officer

Smart City Solutions is not a company loved by many moreso motor-ists in Georgetown since it is responsible for the metered parking now in force.

Its employees are responsible for ensuring drivers pay to park in the designated areas in the city and interestingly most of the company’s ‘transit officers’ seen on the streets are women. It is they who bear the brunt of the driving public’s frustration and anger.

Maybe that was why one transit officer was exceedingly hostile when approach-ed.

“We cannot talk or give no information; we have people who talk for us and right now I have work to do,” the woman rocking a cherry red lipstick said when approached.

“But madam we don’t want to talk about the company’s policies, we just want to talk to you about how it has been for you on the streets,” this writer responded.

“It has been good. It has been wonderful,” she snapped, her tone belying the truth of her words. When further probed, she barked, “I have work to,” before storming off.

Her colleague, a cap perched on her head and an umbrella in her hand stood a few feet away under the overcast sky.

“Not bad,” she said with a smile, when approached and asked about the job.

Though refusing to be named, she divulged that she has been with the company for two weeks.

“I am a transit officer and I have to walk and look at the vehicles to see if they are parked correctly and to see if they are paying for parking,” she explained as she surveyed the street.

“Right now I can talk to you because, as you can see, there are no cars parked on this street.”

Another quick glance and she turns her attention once again to this writer.

“If they are not parked right or they don’t pay I would then call somebody. We don’t charge them or put on the clamp.”

She shifts from one leg to the next as she explained that she has had no bad experience as a transit officer.

“I will be 21 just now and I am going to UG and I needed a work; the last work I had was not a permanent one,” the young transit officer said when asked why she applied to this particular company.

“I know people don’t like the company but I have my work to do and I am just doing my work. So far no one was rude to me but they have their thing to do I have to do my thing.”

Her phone rang.

“Yes mommy? Mommy?” she answer-ed, but got no response and she quickly replaced it in her little side purse.

“My mother would call often because she is scared for me but I tell her I am not afraid. …You know with everything people talking, she just want to know I am safe.

“This is not what I want to do for the rest of my life but it is an honest living…” she trailed off as she once again surveyed the street she was assigned to.

Returning her attention to the conversation she once again made it clear that it was just a job.

“I sent out many applications and this company contacted me. A set of us were trained for about two weeks. We were trained how to operate the machines and how to speak to the public.

“So you see, if somebody is rude to me I would not tell them anything. I would ensure that they pay for the parking if they are driving. If it’s not a driver I would ignore them. I am paid to ignore them.”

How much is she paid?

“You see, you are asking me about company policy. I am not supposed to give out that information but let’s just say it is not enough for me to get by.

“This is the only job that allows me to study and so I come at 12.30 and [work] right to 7 from Monday to Friday.

“Look, people might not like the parking but they can’t vex with we. We just doing we job and doing the right thing. We will respect them and they must respect we.

“I will not be afraid of anyone because I am not doing anything wrong. I will teach people how to use the machine and when they do wrong I will see that they get charge,” she said as she brought the conversation to an end.

There were still no cars parked on the street she manned. But she began a slow trek to the other end of the street.