Dear Editor,
I recently had an inexcusable experience at the Certifying Office at the Brickdam Police Station. I was about the business of acquiring the driving package for prospective drivers. Coupled with the exceedingly slow service and visible disorder that plagued this already hectic process, the intolerable act that accentuated the confusion was shocking.
I was told that before I acquired the package itself, I had to produce a photocopy of my identification card. This was produced; hence I made my way to the Certifying Office to purchase the package. When I arrived at the office there were two persons handling the sale of the packages: one was collecting the money and writing the receipts while the other was entering the relevant information in a book. Due to the traffic of persons that were queued up at the time, this process was moving at a snail’s pace.
Here comes the shocker. The cost of the driving package is $3450 and of course, not everyone came with that exact amount, meaning some required change after their purchase. However, the cashier had no float and hence couldn’t offer anyone change and to my surprise everyone was silently accepting this and not even questioning why they weren’t’ receiving change. When my turn came and I asked for my change, I was told that “dis place is na no bank” and if I wanted change I would have to go and make my own change.” I kept insisting in an orderly manner that change had to be given for purchases and it was their duty to provide everyone with change. Adding insult to injury, the crowd behind me didn’t seem to care and repeatedly stating, “Throw he out man, he wasting time”.
The irony of the situation was amazing I was insisting that I collect change, something that everyone is entitled to do, and no other person seemed to care less. I eventually got my change, only after being threatened by the cashier, who was telling me that he would refuse to write my receipt if I wanted change.
There certainly needs to be change (all puns intended) in the way this government office functions and a better, more customer and employee friendly system put in place. I was seen as the criminal in this situation, when in fact I was the one seeking justice via an inalienable right of all human beings. We as Guyanese, have to start standing up for inalienable privileges. This example is only a speck on the nasty wall of injustice and corruption.
It has become a somewhat passive norm to write a letter to the press whenever an unjust situation presents itself. This shouldn’t be so. I hope that for the sake of all Guyanese this and all other letters of complaint are taken in good stead by the relevant authorities and action is the response and not another letter.
Yours faithfully
Richard de Nobrega
