Poor service at Licensing, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain

THE EDITOR: On May 15, I went to the Licensing Office on Wrightson Road to do a vehicle transfer and engine change. I and the transferee reached around 11 am. There were ten vehicles ahead of us in the queue.

We were given the relevant forms to complete while we waited our turn. At lunch time, all transactions came to a screeching halt.

Mind you, you can't move from the queue because you will lose your spot. With the sun mercilessly burning us, we and others had to abandon our vehicles and head to the shade provided by a tree. Nearby was a tent which had five chairs, of which three were derelict and the others occupied.

At 2.15 pm, we were the second-to-last customers in the queue. I presented all the documents plus the completed forms. However, there was an error in one of the forms. The attending officer told me that instead of "writing all of this crap" I should have simply put the engine number.

We were told to reverse out of the examining pit and go and redo the form. At no point in time were there any staff members we could have gone to for assistance in properly filling out the forms.

When we returned to the line, we realised that the transferee had brought the receipt for an internet bill instead of the actual bill which showed proof of home address.

The attending officer told us to go home and get the proper utility bill and, "let your grandchildren fill out the form for you." This disrespect left a bad taste in my mouth. We left.

We returned two days later at 10.30 am and this time, there were about 15 vehicles ahead of us in the line. The transaction was completed around 2.30 pm – four hours later.

This experience has left me in no doubt that the service at the Licensing Office in Port of Spain needs vast improvements.

Instead of wasting the public's time, every day at lunchtime, can't there be a staggered lunch period when staff can be divided into groups of two or three and take their lunch at different times to ensure service remains open throughout the day during the working hours?

Also, can't there be more inspection pits? What about a queue number system which will eliminate the need for a long line of vehicles whose drivers bake in the hot sun?

I also suggest a training retreat for all staffers on how to respectfully and effectively interact with members of the public. I ought not to be told that I should let my grandchildren help me fill out some forms. That is rude and quite out of place.

There should also be properly marked waiting areas for the public complete with the amenities. What would be the case if a differently-abled member of the public finds themselves in the Licensing Office?

The service needs to be improved.

J CROSBY

Port of Spain