The Guyana Post Office Corporation: Gearing for the challenges of Globalisation
A GINA Feature by: Michael Gordon
The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is gearing itself for the challenges it faces in an increasingly globalised world. This is according to Acting Post Master General, Mrs. June Emptage-Morgan.
Morgan noted that rehabilitation of post offices around the country, an increase in various types of services offered and a sustained staff training programme are three main elements of the drive behind the change.
She noted the Post Office has moved from just a place where stamps were bought and mail is posted, to a developing one-stop-shop, where even stationary and post cards can be purchased.
Rehabilitation
Over the last five years, the GPOC has undertaken a massive rehabilitation programme for its branches around the country. Beginning with the $800,000 work done on the McKenzie Post Office, she said over $50M has been spent on rehabilitation works at various post offices, along with $4M spent to purchase a 230 KVA Generator for the Main Branch. This, she said, is an initiative to ensure that there is uninterrupted service by the Post Office and its tenants.
Additionally, Morgan said, "a tidy sum" has been spent to install a new elevator to the building, which would relieve persons, especially the elderly, from climbing the numerous flights of stairs when going to the Post Office or the General Register Office to conduct business.
Below is a chart of the Post Offices which have been rehabilitated:
Post Office
|
Region
|
Sum Spent
|
Mibicuri Post Office |
Region Six |
$7M |
Clonbrook Post Office |
Region Six |
$5M |
Parika Post Office |
Region Three |
$4.5M |
Providence Post Office |
Region Four |
$1.7M |
McKenzie Post Office |
Region Ten |
$800,000 |
Wales Post Office |
Region Three |
$4M |
Bourda Post Office |
Region Four |
$8.1M |
Soesdyke Post Office |
Region Four |
$4.4M |
Mahdia Post Office |
Region Eight |
$3.6M |
Additionally, an internet cafe has been opened at the Post Office’s Carmichael and Lamaha Streets location.
Services
Mrs. Emptage-Morgan stated that the Post Office now offers Money Transfer services, where in one case, there is a partnership with Carib Cash Money Transfer Service. She said transfers from St, Lucia and Anguilla are also done. The entity also deals with U.S. Money Orders and is also the agent for British postal orders.
Utility bills such as Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and GUYWA can be paid through the Post Office. The Acting Post Master General stated that for GT&T and GPL, same-day transfers are done in the Georgetown area, and at outlying branches transfers are done next day.
The GPOC has also fallen in with the internet Café business. Morgan said in recognition of the fact that there is an electronic way of sending mail, the café was created where customers could access the internet.
She said 15 computers have also be placed at Post Offices around the country offering the same service, an initiative undertaken in partnership with Carib Cash Money Transfer.
The GPOC has under active consideration the introduction of an Express Business Mail Service, where the entity would uplift mail and deliver within an hour. This management promised, would be an efficient and effective service, but would entail slightly higher rates.
In the meantime, with the advent of globalisation and competitiveness in the service-oriented sector, international Courier services have provided formidable challenges to Post Offices the world over. The GPOC is no exemption.
However, in the spirit of competition, The GPOC provides an International Mail Express Service, which Emptage-Morgan boasts is cheaper than the competition. She said it costs $3,500 to send an express mail to the US, $4,000 to the UK, Europe and beyond, $4,500 to India and China and $1,500 around the Region. Additionally, this service is expected to be extended to Canada. Express mails are already being received from the North American country.
The GPOC is the agent for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, making pensions and public assistance payments for that Ministry. It is also the agent for the Treasury where Treasury pensions are paid. The Ministry of Education also benefits from its service, since teachers’ salaries in Hinterland communities are now paid through the Post Office. Previously, teachers in Hinterland communities were made to wait for months, in some cases, to receive salaries.
Some Regional Democratic Councils in Interior areas also use the services of the Post Office to pay staff salaries.
Training and Development
The Post Office Corporation prides itself in being a caring organisation, Emptage-Morgan says. She said apart from providing the traditional uniform for Post men and women, clerical staff is now being provided with uniforms as well as identification buttons.
Recently, in partnership with CARICAD, there were training sessions for senior managers on Change Management and Strategic Development Planning. This was done, she said, in recognition of the fact that it is the senior managers that would have to be the vehicles for imparting that knowledge to their subordinates to deal with the inevitable changes taking place.
One member of the Information Technology staff is currently in India on a training programme. There was also customer service training on a one-day basis at the entity’s training facility, as well as constant on-the-job training on a daily basis.
Real Estate?
Currently, the Post Office Corporation is into real estate, as emphatically stated by Emptage-Morgan. She said unutilised space at all its facilities is rented. The recently refurbished Bourda Post Office houses space for rent on the top floor. Booths at the back of the building are also for rent.
At the Anna Regina Post Office, a private individual operates a photocopying service. She noted similar consideration is being given to other locations.
The General Register Office Headquarters is housed in the GPOC main building, as well as a branch of the Guyana Revenue Authority.
With these and developments to come and a recent call by Prime Minister Samuels Hinds, who holds Ministerial Responsibility for the GPOC, for greater staff participation and involvement in activities, the Guyana Post Office Corporation is poised to excel in this village called earth.
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