By Byron McDaniel, Gleaner WriterMANCHESTER:
D R. BLOSSOM O'Meally-Nelson, chief executive officer of the Postal Corporation of Jamaica and Postmaster-General, announced recently that her department is in the process of upgrading the express mail service by the addition of an electronic tracking mechanism.
Following the upgrade, the express mail service "will cost less than private courier services," O'Meally-Nelson disclosed while speaking at the official opening of a new post office in, Kendal, Manchester. She said that packages sent to the United Kingdom, Canada, the Caribbean and the United States will be tracked by computer using an assigned number. This will be one of several revenue enhancing measures for the cash-strapped department.
Dr. O'Meally-Nelson said, "We have had tremendous improvement in the postal service; our team effort is making it more accessible and affordable to all. Sometimes the operation of the offices costs more than we make. Some have saved $112,000 for the year (but it) costs $400,000 to keep them open. The network has to be funded; I make no apology."
SYSTEM INTRODUCED
A few weeks ago, Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, said that "an end-to-end measurement system was introduced allowing for tracking of the movement of mail." He added that feedback from customers and test mailing of letters indicated that delivery standards of two to three days in the Kingston Metropolitan Region and four to five days islandwide are being met in 65 per cent of the mailing."
The Minister also pointed out that the local express mail 24-hour guaranteed service has achieved steady growth, with some 11,267 pieces delivered islandwide for the 2003/2004 period.
She said the Shooter's Hill Post Office is the ninth built in her four-year tenure without costing the Government a penny, and commended the benefactors - the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), the Kirkvine Community Council, the Manchester Parish Council, residents of Kendal and the Bauxite Community Development Programme for providing $1.9 million for the implementation of the project in 2003.
The new post office, although located in Kendal, is officially known as Shooter's Hill Post Office.
The new concrete building was constructed on the site of the old post office, replacing a derelict wooden structure that was over 60 years old, often plagued by thieves.
