CLICHÉS AND STEREOTYPES can be useful or they can deceive.
On a recent trip to Orlando, I expected to encounter the “ugly American” – loud, brash, unmannerly and narrow-minded. Instead, I was bowled over by the friendliness, courtesy and helpfulness of everyone I met. This started from the airport, with pleasant customs and immigration officers who occasionally joked and chatted with us.
This continued in stores, malls, restaurants and even while driving on the highway. Smiles, pleasantries and helpful people. I felt immediately welcome.
Then came the return home. And shame, shame to be a Bajan. First, there were three plane loads disembarking – perhaps a couple hundred passengers. And just two or three immigration staff.
When my turn came, overjoyed to be back home, I smiled a cheerful “good afternoon”. The reply, with head averted, was a joyless sound like “grnnantrrt” accompanied by a bored icy face.
Worse was to come. At Customs there were just two officers. Lines were long and tempers short. One female officer was heard to ask a passenger loudly: “Look, wha’ is you problem, unh? Wha’ is you problem?” Admittedly I have no idea what was passing between them. Maybe he was being difficult. But to respond like that? Where’s the training? Where’s the professionalism? Where has the touted Bajan friendliness gone?
If I were a tourist arriving for the first time, it would likely be my last. So my question, to the Honourable Richard Sealy and other tourism stakeholders is this: If tourism is we business, can’t we do better? Is there any quality control? How hard can a smile be? How difficult is it to be professional and pleasant? And failing all else, how difficult to replace these shameful Bajans?
– Trevor R Shepherd