One step forward, two steps back
Published:Monday | August 5, 2024 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
On a recent visit to the Constant Spring Inland Revenue Department, upon entering the customer/payment hall, I immediately noticed a stark contrast to what had previously obtained in that space. The comfortable, soft, reclining chairs with handrests had been replaced with hard, far less comfortable plastic chairs with no handrests.
When I asked a customer service agent about the reason for the change, he stated that the chairs were changed because “they were too comfortable” and as such, customers used to fall asleep and would miss seeing and/or hearing their number being called.
Upon hearing this explanation, I was dumbfounded.
Once again, as often happens in this country, the good have to suffer for the bad. It seems to me that given that the onus is on each and every customer who visits any of the Inland Revenue departments, to ensure that they pay adequate attention to the number being called on the screen to pay their bills before leaving that establishment. The fact that some customers and, in all likelihood a minority, fall asleep and may miss out on paying their bills, is not a good enough reason to take the drastic action of replacing all the comfortable seats with significantly less comfortable ones.
The introduction of comfortable seating at the Constant Spring Inland Revenue Department was, in my view, a progressive step on the part of the Government, because it served as a strong incentive to citizens to fulfil their taxpaying obligations on time, or before the due date.
PATRICK GALLIMORE