Dear Editor,
According to a recent release from the Minister of Citizenship, 61,000 passports were processed in the first half of 2016. This is a startling and tremendous figure that is deserving of public praise.
Having taken the lead very early to criticize sharply the situation (lines and durations) at the said passport office, it is only fair and right that I now commend all involved, from minister to managers to citizen-facing officials, for a job executed under severe duress, continuing public glare, and done very well.
When examined more closely, 61,000 passports processed in 6 months means over 10,000 completed monthly, and over 500 finished daily. In view of known resource limitations, it is a revealing and powerful achievement. Again, there can only be kudos for the effort and dedication of the principals in serving the public.
Separately, and once more on the positive side, I passed by the passport office late last week just after 08:00hrs, and observed that the normal lengthy columns of applicants had been reduced to a thin trickle of stragglers. The usual crowd was not visible. Whatever the system ‒ numbering, cutoff, communication ‒ it is working and guides applicants to make adjustments, such as leaving and returning, as opposed to sticking around in forlorn hope and mounting frustration.
This, too, is encouraging and gives room and time for intermediate and long-term plans to take shape and be implemented for the benefit of all citizens.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
