Postmistress at UTech, and loving it
"THE SIGN at the entrance of the post office was lowered and is no longer as visible as it used to be. It must be raised to the height that it was at before. The window where customers are served is not customer-friendly. I have to shout for customers to hear me and they have to shout back at me. As a result customer privacy is often compromised."
When Harfia Ferguson, the postmistress and sole member of staff of the University of Technology (UTech) Post Office, made these disclosures to the writer of this profile, she was not merely finding fault with the physical facilities of her workplace; rather, she was displaying a genuine deep concern for the interest of her employer, and customers of the UTech Post Office, for which she has full responsibility on a daily basis.
VERY RESPONSIBLE
The first impression that Ms. Ferguson left with the writer of this feature was that she was very responsible in her approach to the security of life and property, and would not easily compromise the confidence placed in her by her employer. She requested to be shown an identification, before allowing the writer into the small room that houses the post office. On being told that the writer had no company identification, she requested to be shown a driver's licence, which she was shown.
Ms. Ferguson began working in the Jamaica postal service immediately after graduating from Camperdown High School in Kingston. She started in December 1991 as a temporary employee at what she referred to as the PTO1 level. She had to wait six years before she was promoted to the CR4 level from which she moved into her present position five years later in 2002, in which she has been 'acting' since.
So she has given 14 years of her working life so far to the postal service. Her service has taken her to the Cross Roads, Half-Way Tree, Mona, and Liguanea post offices, culminating with her current location at UTech.
HIGH LEVEL OF COMMITMENT
Given her relative youth, high level of commitment, impressive display of knowledge, and assertiveness, the world will most likely be Ms. Ferguson's for the taking. She is an exceptional ambassador for Jamaica's postal service.
As the postmistress at the UTech Post Office, Ms. Ferguson said she deals with an average of 80-90 customers daily, but that this number increases significantly at month-ends when the Paymaster bill payment service offered at the post office, is used to pay various bills.
Commenting on the tremendous volume of work which she must be performing as the sole postal worker at UTech, she said: "I don't need an assistant. It is manageable. I just need someone to relieve me in case of sudden illness or any other emergencies. I usually borrow someone from the Mona or Liguanea post offices when the pressure is on, but they have been complaining about not having their full staff complement."
GREATER VARIETY NEEDED
Ms. Ferguson believes that "The potential of the UTech Post Office is yet to be fully exploited. A greater variety of services can be offered. I am frequently asked about offering fax and copying facilities, as well as express mail service. It is only the request for the old age pension service that has not been very significant."
The UTech Post Office provides all the standard letter mail services. However, it only accepts outgoing parcels. Paymaster is the only commercial service operated from that location at present. The postmistress said it would be also if it was possible to send and receive e-mail there, even just in relation to the business of the post office and she is hopeful that it will soon be possible.
She said she always had a good relationship with her co-workers at all the post offices where she has worked previously. She commented: "Everywhere I've worked I was called the little one. I'm always greeted with expressions of delight whenever I return to visit."
Michael Gentles, the deputy postmaster general in charge of operations, is the manager for whom she has the greatest admiration. She attributed this to his caring and discerning disposition and manner, and recalled a memorable visit he made to her workplace this way:
"I was then working at the old Liguanea Post Office, which was broken into frequently. After one of those break-ins, Mr. Gentles paid a visit. The then postmaster was absent. I worked in the parcel section which had been hit hardest and I led him through the section. That's when he left this impression with me.
APPRECIATION
He also showed his appreciation for my initiative in showing him around voluntarily in the absence of the Postmaster, as he had not requested it of anyone. I just felt it was a responsibility I had to take up."
Ms. Ferguson shared this just before the interview closed: "Working in the postal service helps you spiritually. It really inspires you to have a lot of hope and faith. There are many things that you have to wait patiently for seeking at all times not to let your confidence decline in the likelihood of them being done. Optimism can be very rewarding!"
