Dear Editor,
A series of letters and blog comments starting with a complaint from Ms Nelson and ending with a final admission from Ms Whyte of GPOC on January 10 refers.
When I post a letter, according to practice, and the law starting with the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, the Post and Telegraph Act, (and in this case the Customs, and Narcotics… Act,) the Post Master General (PMG) has responsibility to effect delivery promptly.
The receiver has certain expectations but the sender retains ‘ownership’ in transit.
When the PMG (Guyana Post Office Corporation [GPOC]) staff ‘challenge’ that mail because of a perceived knowledge as to the contents, then they would onpass to the ‘respective authorities’ for examination and conclusion as to fees, etc.
Reminder that the P&T Act gives the PMG authority to “compound and compromise” any legal mail action!
In the case of incoming mail the receiver is notified for presence at that Customs examination (see the P&T Act) and to pay the Customs duty. If the sender refuses to pay the duty the packet reverts to the PMG for postal determination.
Now when illegal items (narcotics, hemp, coins, etc) are suspected in outgoing (or local) mail could the PRO tell us what is the procedure to ‘challenge’ them and where is the PMG and the sender? In other words when and how does the GPOC relinquish legal control of my letter?
In all this overriding is the Official Declaration made by all GPOC employees (except the PMG, though by default he/she also does swear in a lower position) not to open or delay, etc,with exceptions, eg the Returned Letter Office, without the owner’s consent.
As my friend said, ‘talk am talk am again.’ Just come again please.
Yours faithfully,
LA Camacho
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Ms Telesha Whyte, the PRO of the Guyana Post Office Corporation for any comment she might wish to make.
