The future viability of the GPOC needs serious scrutiny

Apr 10, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
I refer to the Chairman of GPOC in his press conference reported in the papers on April 8, 2011 relating to the robbery at BV Post Office.
I have been one of those persons who lament on present day mediocrity and harp on us going back to the basics in an effort to obtain behavioural change and improvement.
When the Post Office was to become a Corporation, it took several months of planning. There was a General Manager Designate, a Secretary and support staff working full time to have the laws, regulations and operating systems tidied up.
The result is that anyone familiar with the ensuing (and historical) structure and functions of the Post Office will observe that the planners knew what they were about and a working knowledge of the Postal and Telegraph Act, the Post Office Accounting and Staff Regulations (the AR), the Financial Regulations and other regulations and policy documents, will know that systems are in place to effectively manage the Post Office.
In addition the staffing establishment was so geared to achieve stated objectives. The planners also made the Postmaster General “the Chief Executive Officer” of the GPOC within a GUYSTAC structure.
It is known that there were several models used by the political managers to achieve their objectives, including: executive chairmen, supervisory councils, boards and vice presidents. However, in all this, including the Justice George Commission and report, the PMG remained in charge and accountable as the CEO. There was no debate as to corporation aggregate or who else keeps the seal!
It is the emasculating and manipulating of the management structure and systems that make such frequent losses of human material and financial resources a norm in the GPOC. Someone in authority needs to take a serious look and make decisions as to the future viability of the GPOC. Perhaps we may now need to invoke the provisions of the framers and appoint the Post Office Users National Council (POUNC) to review and make recommendations as to what should be best for the workers and the public as a whole.
It really boggles the mind that the Chairman will now invoke the Union on working hours, when the five-day work week is lying around for some 20 years and not implemented.
It boggles the mind that with the known entry level of recruits, the Post Office Training Programme with its linkages to like the……QC Justice Bishop, Adult Education, GTI Foundation in Accountancy, CLC, Postmasters Seminars, and UG programmes….was discontinued more than 10 years ago.
It boggles the mind that where every other organisation seeks to retain institutional memory the Board will refuse to retain some operational staff with scarce skills.
It boggles the mind that there is manipulation and implementation of a top heavy management structure when lower level positions have decreased. It boggles the mind when delivery standards cannot be maintained because of a lack of planning and effective survey of new and developing areas.
Dare I say “back to the basics”?
L. A. Camacho

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