A nation of procrastinators

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Being a master procrastinator myself, I know a problem when I see it. It's probably a culture thing, but it's something that really needs to be addressed - Procrastination.

It's an ugly problem that seems to rear its ugly head in all facets of Jamaican society. Something needs to be done to help coerce Jamaicans, and for this particular instance, mostly men, to fix this problem.

Why in God's name do these people wait until right before the deadline, when serious penalties will occur, to do very necessary transactions, especially when it comes to paying motor vehicle-related fees?

I was at the Transport Authority during the last week of the period earmarked for the renewal of road licences. Fate would so have it that the Easter holiday coincided with this deadline and cut the period by a day. Imagine my disgust at the huge throng of angry men (and women) acting like the very hard-working cashiers weren't doing anything and just sitting looking pretty instead of attending to them.

Almost everyone acted as if only their business was important, and people had all sorts of stories of why they thought they needed to be seen before the persons with earlier ticket numbers than theirs. It was madness! None of these persons seemed to find it convenient, however, to remember that the renewal period had been open since February 18, 2013 and not during the week of March 24-31, 2013 (Road licences expired on March 31, 2013).

I think this is just downright irresponsible, and the cashiers should not be blamed. Seeing them personally, they are doing their best to move as quickly as possible.

I can also clearly remember the everlasting lines at tax offices at the end of the period for the (fairly) recently concluded ticket amnesty. I suspect there will be something similar, albeit on a smaller scale, as there is an amnesty currently on for illegal public passenger vehicle operators to get legal by June 30, 2013. For those interested in hackney-carriage licences, there are only 100 of that type being offered, on a first-come, first-serve basis, and these must be done through a taxi association.

I hope these persons will act speedily and responsibly in this regard. Procrastinators, please procrastinate ... tomorrow.

Double A