Rise of 160% plus predicted for postal rates
-Local letter might cost $20
Stabroek News
March 14, 2003
The cost of sending a letter within Guyana is likely to increase to $20 next month, predicts Postmaster General of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Noel Phillips.
He says current postal rates are considered to be low and in order to make the corporation commercially viable, increases in rates are necessary.
Phillips told this newspaper that the administration had submitted a proposal via Prime Minister Sam Hinds for the increase to cabinet for their approval. He was optimistic that a decision would be made by the end of this month which would allow them to increase their rates.
The new rates proposed by GPOC are: local stamps $20 from the current $6; Carib-bean $60 from $20; North America $80 from $30; Europe $100 from $35 and other countries such as Africa $160 from the current $60. Phillips said the proposed increases reflected an across- the-board hike of 160-200 per cent.
Phillips noted that the implementation of new rates was something the corporation has been working on for a long while. He said GPOC was strapped for cash and an increase in postal rates was the only option.
Meanwhile, Jane Staple, a consultant from New Zealand has carried out a review of the GPOC's operations and made a number of recommendations to the management. Phillips said the review was timely and could form a basis for the reorganisation of the corporation. According to him, Staple had recommended that GPOC should take keen interest in their financial situation, adding that it was time the corporation employed a financial controller. Moreover, Phillips said the review advised that the corporation should also pay closer attention to their buildings especially Bourda Post Office which according to Phillips was the corporation's main revenue earning office. He said for this year GPOC would be doing a lot of renovation to its buildings.
Phillips said office space at GPOC's Robb street office had been rented and was bringing in extra revenue.
On the issue of mail carriers delivering letters through a third party, Phillips said, GPOC had been emphasising that all mail must be delivered to the address given and that mail carriers were being told in no uncertain terms that they must deliver the letters themselves.
Phillips conceded that there had been mail pilfering in the system, but it was being considerably reduced. He said GPOC now had mail inspectors and closed circuit cameras which allowed supervisors to see activities taking place in certain offices. Besides, he said the operations manager also had a monitor in her office. Phillips reported that with the monitors three persons had been caught engaged in malpractice.
On the question of customer relations, Phillips noted that the GPOC administration had been stressing the need for good customer relations. He said from time to time there had been in-house training seminars on the issue. GPOC conducts monthly training for customer staff, but Phillips said since they had now reorganised they would embark on a more formal classroom type of training. The cost of sending a letter within Guyana is likely to increase to $20 next month, predicts Postmaster General of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Noel Phillips.
He says current postal rates are considered to be low and in order to make the corporation commercially viable, increases in rates are necessary.
Phillips told this newspaper that the administration had submitted a proposal via Prime Minister Sam Hinds for the increase to cabinet for their approval. He was optimistic that a decision would be made by the end of this month which would allow them to increase their rates.
The new rates proposed by GPOC are: local stamps $20 from the current $6; Carib-bean $60 from $20; North America $80 from $30; Europe $100 from $35 and other countries such as Africa $160 from the current $60. Phillips said the proposed increases reflected an across- the-board hike of 160-200 per cent.
Phillips noted that the implementation of new rates was something the corporation has been working on for a long while. He said GPOC was strapped for cash and an increase in postal rates was the only option.
Meanwhile, Jane Staple, a consultant from New Zealand has carried out a review of the GPOC's operations and made a number of recommendations to the management. Phillips said the review was timely and could form a basis for the reorganisation of the corporation. According to him, Staple had recommended that GPOC should take keen interest in their financial situation, adding that it was time the corporation employed a financial controller. Moreover, Phillips said the review advised that the corporation should also pay closer attention to their buildings especially Bourda Post Office which according to Phillips was the corporation's main revenue earning office. He said for this year GPOC would be doing a lot of renovation to its buildings.
Phillips said office space at GPOC's Robb street office had been rented and was bringing in extra revenue.
On the issue of mail carriers delivering letters through a third party, Phillips said, GPOC had been emphasising that all mail must be delivered to the address given and that mail carriers were being told in no uncertain terms that they must deliver the letters themselves.
Phillips conceded that there had been mail pilfering in the system, but it was being considerably reduced. He said GPOC now had mail inspectors and closed circuit cameras which allowed supervisors to see activities taking place in certain offices. Besides, he said the operations manager also had a monitor in her office. Phillips reported that with the monitors three persons had been caught engaged in malpractice.
On the question of customer relations, Phillips noted that the GPOC administration had been stressing the need for good customer relations. He said from time to time there had been in-house training seminars on the issue. GPOC conducts monthly training for customer staff, but Phillips said since they had now reorganised they would embark on a more formal classroom type of training. (Nigel Williams)
