Uncivilized Jamaicans

I’m rather appalled by the manner in which many of us Jamaicans behave in public settings. Why must we display such uncivilized and inappropriate behavior when there’s no need to?

For those of us Jamaicans who keep up to date with the latest news, you might have been aware that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) offices were closed to the public on Thursday, July 31 & Monday, August 4 to facilitate upgrades to our new Customer Service Suite. However, Bill Express outlets inside the offices remained opened to facilitate bill payments. The communication arm of the company was mandated with the responsibility of informing the public of the closure and this was excellently executed through various channels. Naturally, persons ranked in the ‘uncivilized category’ wouldn’t have received the memo.

With signs all around the office to inform customers of what was taking place, there’s absolutely no way that one could miss the fact that something unusual was taking place inside. Usually customer care agents would be seated at their respective desks and customers would be sitting in the lobby waiting their turn. However both days were different, agents were huddled in a corner surrounding one computer, a barricade was mounted and customers were directed to the landlines.

While the customer care reps tried to maneuver the new system and as the security guard directed all customers to use the in-office phones to query their bills, one customer had the audacity to burst through the barricade and approach us shouting ‘A wha kinda slackness dis a gwaan, more way unu a look fi tief from poor people’? Upon realizing that the agents were tending to their own business and having being restrained by our security guard, he finally calmed down.

We even went to the extent of placing a CLOSED sign at the front desk, which the customers conveniently ignored and proceeded to shout their questions across the desk. Even with signs strategically placed in the office, we were forced to repeat that due to a system upgrade we were unable to offer any assistance.

It amazes me that some of these same persons who behave so uncivilized here, go to other parts of the world and willingly comply with rules and regulations. So why must they behave inappropriately in their own country? They say education is expensive but try ignorance. The only way Jamaica will accomplish first-world status is if the citizens are willing to rid themselves of such ignorance.

My gosh!

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