Dear Editor,
I recently visited the Lethem Immigration Office to have my passport renewed. It was the first time I was renewing my passport and as such I was unclear as to the procedures that would have to be followed to enact a renewal. I was under the impression that the process was simple and efficient. What I got however was far more than I had bargained for.
On the day in question, I travelled dozens of miles from my place of abode in the Rupununi, and tired, dusty and sweaty I proceeded to the Lethem Immigration Office- an office located in one of the rooms of the Lethem Police Station. Upon entering the Lethem Immigration Office that day it was empty save for three persons, two of whom I assumed were off duty Immigration Officers because they were not in uniform and were just lounging around the Office, and a third person, an Amerindian male, perhaps in his middle or late twenties, who was in uniform and sitting behind a desk. The uniformed Immigration Officer was talking loudly on a cell phone as if he was in the privacy of his home and not in an office open to the public.
Upon entering the Lethem Immigration Office, out of common courtesy I collectively told all three persons in the Office ‘Good morning’, but only one of the persons, one of the guys not in uniform, muttered a barely audible reply whilst the other two persons ignored me. I was taken aback at what I considered rather rude behaviour, from the other two individuals, especially the uniformed Immigration Officer who gave no indication of putting away his cell phone, and tending to the public as most definitely is part and parcel of his job. So I directed my questions at the guy who had answered my initial greeting, but he referred me to the uniformed Immigration Officer, who as you may have guessed, paid no attention to me whatsoever and continued talking loudly on his phone. So there I sat feeling like a complete and utter idiot and no doubt looking like one to all of the persons in the building at that moment, while this Immigration Officer, being paid with revenue garnered from the taxpayers of this country and being paid to provide a service to the general public continued chatting away happily on his phone.
I had to endure this humiliation and frustration for about ten minutes before the Immigration Officer, mind you, did not come off his cell phone, but in the middle of his conversation with whoever it was on the other end rudely asked me “You come to me?” I was shocked at his impoliteness but I swallowed my pride and as quickly as possible explained my situation. Still on the phone but speaking to me now, he said brusquely “you have to get a renewal form and two passport pictures” and that was that. He commenced his conversation on the phone and I was left at sea, sailing. No explanations as how I was to acquire the renewal form, or the cost for the form, or what was the next step after I had filled the renewal form; nothing. So I had to ask him how I was to go about getting the form and with a dark look and a tone to match he said
” You pay $100 and you get the form”. And again that was that! No further explanations. I decided then to call it quits. I purchased my renewal form and hurriedly left after deciding that it was perhaps better if I try to renew my passport in Georgetown (or at least so I hope). I had had enough of being humiliated. When I left the Immigration Office, the Immigration Officer was still chatting on his cell phone.
I am now taking the opportunity to ask whoever it is that is in charge of the Lethem Immigration Office, to look into this matter, because who knows how many persons this particular officer has treated in such a demeaning and callous manner? He must be warned and if his performance does not improve he should be dismissed. The authorities in charge should also make greater efforts to ensure that a better quality of service is provided to the public. Those sore thumbs, those pompous, rude and arrogant officers who feel that they are bigger than the law should be singled out, sanctioned and dismissed if their performance does not subsequently improve. No wonder Guyana is in such a backward state. How can the public trust the Immigration and Customs Officers, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force when they treat the public like they are the common enemy? There must be mutual trust and understanding before we can go forward. Better public relations are the way to go before we can start seeing improvements.
Yours faithfully,
H. Edwards
