I WRITE TO highlight a case of style trumping function.
Earlier this week I was conducting business in the General Post Office in Bridgetown where just for the record, I received excellent service. However, the ability to transact business was hampered by the glass barrier between myself and the customer service representative.
In the middle of the glass panel, at mouth level, is a hole that has been plugged by a fancy-looking metal grille which effectively blocks the ability for effective communication from either side.
Both myself and the representative had to bend down and speak through the document slot at desk level and the senior citizen at the position next to me had to resort to this as well.
The representative explained that most people complain about the arrangement and quite often they have to shout to be heard or to stand up, bend over and shout through the document slot, which makes for an unprofessional and, frankly speaking, ridiculous state of affairs.
I understand that the metal obstruction is there for aesthetics as it certainly is not there to facilitate ease of communication. This is a simple fix which would considerably ease the ability to communicate and conduct business in the post office. In essential services, style must never be allowed to trump function.
I promised both the senior citizen and the customer service representative that I would write in to highlight this issue in hopes that someone would remove the grilles.
– Wilfred A. Abrahams
