Tower Of Babel

…why not? OK, I really don’t like to be the type to have to post about issues that annoy me…rants I think is the popular word for them in blog land…I prefer to post about things that may make people think constructively, smile or even laugh. But, as a very patriotic Jamdown bwoy, the plague of locusts that we call our government is beginning to test me (and perhaps just about the vast majority of our populace!)

If you read my last few posts you may remember that I said that I was issued a ticket on Tuesday night because in a routine check it was discovered that the certificate of fitness for my car had expired from October last….yes, I admit I was wrong, but just completely forgot about checking to see the date of expiration.

Anyhow, this morning, making an attempt to remain within the limits of the law, I went to the Tax Office before going to work to pay the penalty, as well as the fee for the fitness certificate. I join the credit card line which has only one person in front of me. Soon, the pleasant young lady (giving credit where it is due…this is the government I’m dealing with), takes the documents and asks for my TRN… Taxpayer Registration Number….sort of like a Social Security Number in the US….but I doubt the information they can get out of entering my TRN into their computers is as elaborate as what the SSN in the States provides. For me, as long as they can verify that a large chunk of my salary (Income Tax, NIS, NHT, Education Tax) is deducted from my pay each month at the hospital, then that will suffice!

Things seem to be running smoothly until I see her frowning. She then indicates to me that the fine the Police Officer put on the ticket for the offence is incorrect. It is three thousand and not two thousand dollars as is on the ticket! (Rate of exchange is Ja. 60 to 1 US dollar approximately….and climbing might I add!) So the fine is about fifty US dollars. I tell her to go ahead and process the bill. She indicates that there is another problem. I think to myself…..What now? “Oh, Sir, the ticket that the Policeman gave you has no date on it.” So I tell her it was issued on Tuesday night…the 20th. She indicates to me (very decently again) that even though she fully believes me, she cannot take my word for it and she is not authorised to write the date on the ticket! She tells me that I will have to take the ticket over to the Constant Spring Police Station and have them date and stamp it! I might add that she even apologized for the inconvenience but it was beyond her control.

So, like a lightening bolt, I flash the Tax Office and get into the car to drive the short (thank God) distance to the station.

Parking lot at the station ram up wid a lot of derelict vehicles (probably cars that were in accidents, stolen or evidence from crime scenes…who knows?) Anyway, I manage to find a spot to park without causing any traffic violation (as far as I can see.) I go into the reception area of the station and after a short wait and explaining what I am there for I am directed to the “Traffic Office”. I knock and enter after hearing, “Come.” I step inside and see a young lady who says, “Good morning.” I start to explain myself only for her to hold her hands up in the air and stop me saying, “I don’t work here. The girl soon come!” (Yeah, this is Jamaica….soon is relative here.) Eventually, after about five minutes another woman comes in who is apparently the lady ‘In Charge’. (Might I add that there are about eight desks in the room with nobody sitting behind them….but stacks of paperwork are strewn all over.)

Eventually after explaining myself to her she takes the ticket and holding it at a good distance before she seems to be able to read it (looks like she could do well with an Ophthalmology consultation) she indicates to me that this is NOT the Division that issued the ticket…it is Elleston Road! Of course, I now start to cuss some serious rass unda mi breath. Cause, you done know seh me naw go down Elleston Road. Awoah!

‘She can’t verify that de ticket did issue Tuesday night…..she nuh response fe it….plus de fee pon de ticket wrong anyhow!’ Nuff ray ray, horse dead and cow fat….but still this naw help my situation. She then blurts out, “You know, a mussi one o dem likkle inexperienced Police Bwoy write up dah ticket yah….novice Police!” Even though I’m getting pretty pissed…I actually laughed at her comment. Eventually, after about fifteen minutes of chatting and saying why she should not do what she needs to, she eventually stamps the ticket and dates it. I tell her thanks and head back to the Tax Office, pay the $4,500 (the fitness fee is now 1,500 dollars…up from seven hundred and fifty!) with my credit card and get the hell out to head for the hospital…. (the rest of the crew at work knew I was going to be late). So, I need to have the car examined now to be granted the fitness certtficate. Groan, Sigh, cuss nuff claat.

The crosses and price that decent citizens of this country have to endure to try and make a half decent living is really beginnig to milk any well thinking man’s balls dry! (Not that you get any pleasure out of having them milked BTW…) Yeah, see I can laugh still.

Well, I get to work to have more stress thrown on my back…but so as not to burden you with anymore of my woes…. I will omit the details there and just say thanks to the Almighty that I have a job….. (we got paid today as well, so I guess that’s a plus!)

So, having done all the chatting, let me ask you, “How’s your day been so far? If it has been crappy, let’s hope it gets better. I can see myself having a drink tonight….oops, I’m teaching at 11 AM tomorrow. Cho, it’s just a few of the blistering disorders I’m doing….I man well safe!

Tek it easy nuh!

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2004 at 3:59 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.