Unprofessional behaviour by an official at the ferry stelling

Aug 15, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,

I would like to highlight an unwelcomed treatment at the Canawaima ferry stelling by a Ministry of Public Health Staffer — Port Health Officer. The female Port Health Officer was stationed at the ferry stelling to check on the yellow fever immunization cards for all travelers that were crossing to Suriname. I was greeted by an unpleasant and obnoxious demeanor from this officer. She was yelling and trying to show her authority with a boisterous attitude. She was very unprofessional and was seen chewing a gum when attending to passengers.

Is this how we want to promote tourism in Guyana by bullying people? We fully understand that you are there to do your job lady; hence this should have been done in the most professional manner. This gross disrespect will be paramount in the minds of all travelers who were clearly stressed out about the poor quality of service provided by the Canawaima ferry stelling in Guyana and the Ministry of Public Health Port Health Official. Travelers that got their yellow fever vaccines privately were also harassed by this Port Health Officer. She lamented that the Vaccination and Immunization cards were not valid if it came from a private institution or missing a stamp from MPH.

I can attest that we were back and forth at the ministry to update our cards but were told there are no cards available! What else can we do? We told the Port Health Officer that the Ministry had already given its quota of vaccines for the day hence seeking it at a private institution, which was the advice that was given by one of the nurses at the Ministry of Public Health in Georgetown.

The Port Health Officer said that can’t be true and we were lying! What utter nonsense! Commuters visit Ministry of Health as early as 6:00 a.m. to get this vaccine and only the first 50 persons are given this vaccine in any given working day, so if someone has to travel urgently to Suriname, are you saying that passengers can’t go and get this vaccine privately? You won’t accept it? Are you saying that the immunization cards from a private hospital are not authentic even though it was correctly endorsed by a certified medical practitioner privately?

Guyana can do so much better to boost the tourism and hospitality sector. I hope the relevant authorities can provide some needed customer service training to all Port Officers on how to professionally deal with people. For starters, please look at the professionalism in our neighbouring country Suriname!

Itwaru

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