Royal Mail, BVI Post Office Problems can trigger domino effect — alienate business

 by Oscar Ramjeet

 The British Virgin Islands is making rapid and commendable strides in the financial world as well as  in tourism and the marine industry, the main sources  of the territory's economy, but there is fear that the progress of these institutions would be hampered  because of the unreliability of the postal service.

Although these three business organizations as well as others use emails, and the expensive Federal Express, UPS. DHL and other small courier services  to send and receive mails and packages, the postal  service is the main means of dispatching as well as  receiving documents, and literature for their day to  day business, and inordinate delays and instances of disappearance of mails would definitely affect the  smooth operation or even dampen their operations.

There have been complaints to this  newspaper that mails including registered packages sent from the Road Town Post office to Europe via  London  have not reached their destination, and efforts to  track down these mails have been futile. In fact a  customer relations supervisor of the Royal Mail told  one of the aggrieved customers that the "Royal Mail receive no money from overseas postal administrations  towards processing registered mail, so they don't do  anything at all. It is impossible to track a  registered item from overseas once it arrives in  England"

This explanation by the Royal Mail official is  not accurate because registered mail is handled in  locked bags in transit and in safes at either end of its route, and it is receipted for (internal in the Post Office) at each step of the way if it changes  custody. Therefore it is very hard to lose it within the  postal service. If the mails or packages disappear in thin air the only logical conclusion one can come to is either theft or they were misdirected to some unknown destination. In any event the postal authorities in the country where the mails arrived would be liable,  but of course they would want to shirk their  responsibility.

The Royal Mail is trying to cover up for its inefficiency in paying out tens of millions of pounds in compensation to customers for its poor service and  it also missed all its 15 service-quality targets  which could have led to hefty fines from the  industry regulator Postcomm, but was spared by Postcomm because it will soon face competition, and they have to pay substantial compensation (sixty million pounds sterling).

However the move by Postcomm not to impose a fine has been criticized by the consumer watchdog organization for the postal service, Postwatch.

Royal Mail made it quite clear that if postal services of other countries are involved, they are not liable for loss or damage outside the United Kingdom  but the persons who have contacted this newspaper were advised by the BVI Postal Authorities that their  mails posted at the Road Town Post Office reached the United Kingdom. This means that Royal Mail is legally liable.  And do not forget the BVI is a UNITED KINGDOM OVERSEAS TERRITORY.

In spite of its poor performance, Royal Mail, has  launched a public relation campaign and has increased the price of first class stamps, but the British mail company argues that its mail prices are far less than other European countries in terms of value for money.

The non arrival of important mails sent from the BVI and to the BVI is posing a serious problem to residents of the territory, and the government at the highest level, be it the Legislative Council, or Executive Council  should step in and make representation not only on  behalf of the customers, but also for the BVI Postal  Authorities and the Postmaster General. 

It would be prudent for the government to do so  since the BVI, and all UK Overseas Territories have an  agreement with the British Government when they signed a modern partnership agreement in 1998 which aimed at progress and prosperity.

The preamble to the  agreement states "Britain's links with the Overseas  Territories are long standing and important. The  relationship is rooted in a shared history, but it moves forward too, in partnership. For Britain, the  Overseas Territories are a significant element in  its national and international identity, and an important responsibility. For the Overseas Territories, their links with Britain are  significant too".

It is noteworthy to mention that under the Modern Partnership Agreement BV Islanders have an option to apply for British citizenship and a large number of them have done so, and according to reports many of the new British citizens who live in the BVI have been affected by the Royal Mail disservice, therefore it could be argued that the BVI mail is no foreign mail in the United Kingdom.

The Royal Mail is akin to the British Government and it might be a good idea if the BVI government  contact its senior partner for its intervention in this serious issue.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: RE MAIL DISSERVICE

BUSINESS SECRETARY IS APPALLED

I have read the article in your newspaper of April 16, and I am in total agreement that something has to be done about this Mail Service.

Gone were the days when people had only the snail mail to depend on. Now there are so many alternatives. One can use e-mail, express mail, chat on line to convey whatever needs to be said, despite all of that the vast majority of people still use the regular snail mail.

However, people are getting fed-up about the service provided. On numerous occasions other people's mail are put in my box, and is returned promptly to the Post Office so that it can be sent to the right recipient, however, what if  another person who is not as considerate as I am received someone else's mail, any number of things could be done with that piece of mail.

So whether the fault is local or overseas, much more care should be taken when the mail is being handled.

P.C.L. (Concerned Citizen)

KEEP UP THE INCISIVE REPORTING

Two recent articles: The Politics of 'Foreigners' and BVI mail are particularly pertinent. Thank you for bringing them to light.

With Expats probably outnumbering 'born here' BVIslanders Sir Ronald Sanders hits the nail right on the head. One point, however, "the 'foreigner' vote has become so important in many Caribbean countries..." certainly does not apply to The BVI. 'Foreigners' simply cannot vote unless naturalised and that process takes a long time.

We often wonder why mail takes so long to reach us. It was a surprise to learn that Royal Mail is having its problems. We often receive mail form UK in 4 or 5 days. It is the US mail that seems stuck in molasses. The overworked staff of BVI mail sorting unit certainly deserves recognition and assistance.The long awaited move of the East End/Long Look Post Office also seems stuck in bureaucratic molasses. The present parking situation is a most serious traffic hazard.

Hopefully your article will put some pressure on Government to take corrective action. Pride in its mail service used to be a measure of a country's ability to run itself.  Keep up the incisive reporting.                                  

                                                                                     Emmett Evans 

FRIEND OF THE BVI CALLS FOR UPU INVESTIGATIONS

I read with great interest the articles about the problems with the postal service. They are very informative --but annoying. When I was a child in Europe, we had three mail deliveries a day, even one on Sunday. The postal employees were proud of their government jobs. Now, I am glad when I get undamaged packages and/or letters!

The private carriers are still too expensive! What you report about the Royal Mail and the Tortola service, is mirroring the US service. Here, they are raising the fees again soon (to 39 cents for a letter). The Universal Postal Union (UPU) should look into the problems. I hope it happens soon!              Gustav A. Pohlig, Waterloo NY USA

 BUSINESS WOMAN TELLS OF HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE POST

I was amazed at what I read in last week’s Island Sun. I read the articles about the Post Office and can't help but comment on it.

While I am convinced that many of our problems are not generated here, we do have some massive problems too!

For example: Caribbean Insurers sent me a registered letter, postmarked 5th November 2004. The pink card was stamped on 28th November and put in the box the same day. The letter had a deadline of 15th November, but took 24 days for the 30 feet distance from the post office counter to my box.

One day I found 22 letters for BDO Binder in my box (their box is next to mine), which I hand delivered to their Manager. More than once I found letters in my box that were actually addressed to Hon. David Brand (then the Chief Minister of Montserrat), PO Box 207, Plymouth, Montserrat, WI. The letters had the correct PO Box number, just on the wrong Territory.

Several times when I carefully mentioned the problems with permanently wrong mail in my box I was told I am just overstating the size of the problem. Well, at that time I started taking the wrong mail home, took photo copies and gave them back to the post office after putting a note on to highlight the correct box for the mail, as well as my name. I have well over 50 copies of mail that was in my box in recent times, destined to other people (not including the 22 letters to BDO!) It even includes a recent Phone Bill to our Chief Minister, Dr. The Hon. Orlando Smith!

Now - I am not so much concerned about mail wrongly put in my box, by where has my mail gone?? At one time I met a lady outside the post office, who just found three "mis-placed" letters in her box. She told me that every week she gets several pieces of wrong mail and "just dumps it in the garbage". I remember at least five occasions when I received a call from Mrs. Wheatley at Roadtown Wholesale (their box is above mine), telling me nicely to come and pick up some mail that was in their box!

I am waiting for three items from the parcel post for over 6 months from the USA and one from my Mom in Germany. I wonder who got them and enjoys the items that I paid for??

I am glad to hear that plans of improvement are on the way. We need improvements for sure!

Astrid C. Wenzke