Licence Driver’s horror
HAVE you ever tried to renew your driver’s licence? If you haven’t yet, please, please, please do not go to the St Andrew office of the Inland Revenue Department at Constant Spring. It is the most oppressive system in place at any Government agency. And I would wager my savings (which is not much) on that.
It took me five visits to the location before I could get my licence, which expired on my birthday, December 12. On the first visit, I arrived in the parking lot at 11:25. It was jam packed and with people driving around and around in search of parking, one brilliant security man suggested that we park over by Immaculate Conception High School, close to noon. By the time I got back to the ‘tax office’, it was 12:05 — a good time to be told that section cuts off business to the public at 12:00 each day.
The second incident of torture occurred a day after Boxing Day. The woman handing out the tickets, in a new, frustrating system that a Rhodes Scholar obviously designed, warned that I could be in for a long wait — between two and three hours because of some malfunctioning ‘system’, caused, perhaps, by too much ‘spirits’ over the Christmas holiday. She was dead right. After getting there at 11 o’clock this time, waiting almost three hours to pay the licence fee, then heading downstairs to finally be photographed and collect my new licence, one employee on the way up said ‘wait, a wey you a go? Dem close off from 12.’ Again, a wasted day.
The third visit was last Monday. My arrival time? 10:47. How long was the wait to hear my number (L173)? Two hours and three minutes. But wait, I have a job. I can’t spend all that time at Constant Spring. I had to leave. So must plan for another day.
It must be done by Wednesday. So by 9:30 I was there, collected a ticket, waited downstairs for over two hours for the number to be called, only to hear that I should have joined a customer service queue. That done, I managed to get in. Whew! The picture was taken, but I guess the camera developed an allergy to the look of my face, so it had to be retaken. Another wait beckoned. This time for 22 minutes. Oh well, I could go and pay another of the wretched Government bills which I did, and by golly, my licence was ready to be collected upon my return at 12:45. Success at last!
Every day you go to Constant Spring there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.
My advice to you all, if you are from Kingston & St Andrew and want to renew your driver’s licence, it’s easier to drive to Savanna-la-mar or Black River and look after it there. At least your sanity will be kept intact.