Dear Editor,
I have read the Guyana Post Office Public Relations Officer Yolaskee Jarvis’ response, ‘Factors outside the control of the Guyana Post Office can cause delays in mail delivery’ (SN September 5.
Like other customers I too experienced delivery failure not so long ago and can see with the excuse given: “since we are not the owners of an aircraft we depend heavily upon the operating airlines to successfully facilitate the conveyance of mail… [and we] further depend on the various postal administrations in the respective countries to deliver mail expeditiously.”
As a matter of urgency I posted a document express at a cost of $1500 and was told that it would take about four-five days to reach its destination. After two weeks had elapsed I was receiving furious calls from the would-be recipient. Into the third week – of course after making enquiries at the GPO, I was forced to redo the document and post once more. It was costly: three trips to Georgetown; telephone calls, local/international; being spoken to in a blistering tone and some $12,000 expenditure on what should have been $3,500!
But I must say that during all this discomfort I was enduring, the then Post Master General (ag) Mr Dundas seemed concerned and distressed too, was very accommodating and polite and offered the exact explanation as stated above by Ms Jarvis.
I raised the question of compensation/reimbursement, even wrote a letter requesting such as I was advised to do, but it was rejected on the ground of “creating a precedent.” And here, Editor, is my concern and main point: while I would like to take sincerely the soothing apology given by the Public Relations Officer, “for any inconvenience and emotional turmoil experienced,” I ask, what of the excessive cost that was incurred by the customer through no fault of his?
With respect to all the above which was nicely put by Ms Jarvis, and at the end of the day it remains the responsibility of the GPO to ensure that customers receive the services paid for, no more, no less. To spend some $12,000 for the postage of a document that should cost $3,500 is absurd and calls for more than an apology.
I deserve a refund, anything less is not meaningful.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
