Dear Editor,
As we grow older, we sometimes tend to develop an attitude of patient acceptance of present realities, even as we long for the good old days. It is in that regard that I note the letter: `Contacting the NIS’ in Stabroek News of August 8, 2020.
In that letter, the writer Ms Dianne Baxter Lewis, Public Relations Officer of the NIS stated, inter alia: “… be advised that contact was made with Mr George N. Cave and he was provided with our e-mail address to facilitate the resubmission of his letter.”
That, Editor, is quite, quite true.
I hold Ms Dianne Baxter Lewis, Public Relations Officer of the NIS in the very highest regard, but in this instance, I can’t decide whether to be irritated, or just merely to laugh out loud. Too, I have no idea who is authorized to handle matters in her name.
You see, Editor, after my letter dated July 19, 2020 was published in Stabroek News, the PRO telephoned me. I let her give me an e-mail address at which I could contact her, and out of abundant caution, I wrote it down. When I checked in my computer, I found it was absolutely identical with the e-mail address that I had used to contact the NIS previously, and that is stored in this computer.This computer has two (2) features that I find very useful and valuable. Firstly, if I send an e-mail to an incorrect address, within seconds I get an e-mail: “Mail Delivery Subsystem. Address not found.” And then the computer provides a detailed explanation. Secondly, provided that I do not change the “Subject,” the computer attaches all the items of correspondence, so I may easily check on and follow the development of any matter. When last I checked, the computer indicates that there are six (6) items of correspondence to and from the NIS between July 20, 2020 and July 29, 2020 in respect of my matter.
On July 20, 2020 at 10:52 a.m., in order to be sure that I was using the correct e-mail address and to ensure that my e-mail was received, I wrote the PRO: “We spoke. Pl. indicate by Reply button whether you receive this. Thank you. George N. Cave.”
On July 20, 2020 at 11:40 a.m. I received a reply: “Hello Mr Cole, Thank you for your email. Dianne Lewis Baxter, Public Relations Officer.”
Don’t laugh, Editor. In the reply to my e-mail I am called: “Mr Cole.”
On July 20, 2020 at 10:52 a.m. I wrote the PRO again, listing my points as Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, Fourthly, Fifthly, Sixthly, Seventhly.
In Firstly, I said: “I am CAVE (as indicated in my e-mail), not Cole.” In Secondly, I said: “I attach a copy of my letter to you dated 2019-11-07, hand-delivered at the NIS HQ on Brickdam. It explains the matter.” In Thirdly, I attached the letter that had been hand-delivered for the Chairman. In Fourthly, Fifthly, Sixthly and Seventhly I set out a number of things.
Out of abundant caution, and just in case my disgust over the non-customer-friendly behaviour received from some sections of the NIS was not clear, I said: “Finally, I no longer wish to pursue the personal matter that I raised in my letters of 2019-11-07 and 2019-11-25. At my age, my time may be better spent preparing to go gentle into that good night.”
On July 22, 2020 at 10:38 a.m. I received a further communication from the PRO, so on July 22, 2020 at 6:08 p.m. I responded: “Thank you for your e-mail. As I have absolutely no further personal interest in this matter, I here restate for the record what I said in the final sentence of my e-mail to you, viz., ‘Finally, I no longer wish to pursue the personal matter that I raised in my letters of 2019-11-07 and 2019-11-25. At my age, my time may be better spent preparing to go gentle into that good night.’”
There is, of course, a further letter from the PRO on July 29, 2020 at 2:24 p.m. that I have ignored. And there is now the letter from the PRO in Stabroek News of August 8, 2020.
Editor, nothing (You hear me, Editor? nothing) will persuade me to have any further correspondence with the NIS on anything. Absolutely nothing.
Yours faithfully,
George N. Cave.
