Barriers blocking progress

 The speed of progress can often be hindered by ineffective systems, too much red tape or even one individual. Let me elucidate.

 

Heading to Oistins to do some business with the Barbados Revenue Authority last Friday, I met with a line coming out the door and heading back over the ramp into the sunshine. The security guard thankfully allowed everyone to know that the card machines were not working, so persons looking to pay with credit or debit cards could not do so. As I watched a lady take out her umbrella to shade from the sun while waiting, I thought how much easier it would be to have a vending machine for licences, where one could simply put in their card and their cash and wait a few minutes for the new one to be issued. 

 

Better yet, how about having an online payment system where persons could pay and be scheduled a date and time for the card and their registration circle to be picked up at the Authority.

 

It is ridiculous that at a time when government is in need of cash, that persons, in 2016, have  to give up so much of their productive hours waiting to pay such taxes! 

 

But it is not only systems that can create obstacles. Living in a small country, it is always easy to know somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody, and as a result there are some who are willing to exploit this link in order to put obstacles in the path of progress.

 

A few years ago, my vehicle was struck by another due to the fact that the other driver’s vehicle had lost all steering. Upon arriving at the scene, her husband was quick to say that he could make a call to his body work man to have my vehicle repaired. Not gaining a favourable response, as I stood firm that it had to be repaired at the dealer, he allowed me to know, in no uncertain terms, that they would not be paying for the accident as he knew who to call and what to do to drag out the process.

 

Being my first accident in the over 15 years I had been driving, in my naïveté I believed that it was a clear cut case where her insurance would accept culpability and pay for my vehicle to get fixed. After a site visit with both insurance companies, where once again, he adamantly said that they were not going to accept blame, regardless of the fact that their vehicle had no steering and was in the middle of the road when it struck my own, it was then decided that there would be a wait for the police report before blame could be assigned. My insurance company then informed me  that it was often a 

six-month wait for such reports as these had to cross the desk of several officials within the force, including that of the Commissioner of Police, before a copy could be sent to the relevant insurance companies. Imagine that! No wonder some persons have to wait years to be granted settlements.

 

Dear readers, it took ten months before the report came back in my favour. Content now that everything would flow smoothly, colour me surprised when my insurance contacted me to say that the couple was now demanding a review of the report, which the agent admitted was highly unusual. By then enough was enough and I made a trek to their insurance company, where a manager, confused by 

why such steps had been taken in a clear cut case, apologised and accepted liability.  

 

It was this instance that indicated to me how simple issues can be complicated unnecessarily by the dishonourable intent of one individual.

 

We can no longer adopt the attitude of accepting things as they are in this island, especially when it comes to its smooth running. Transparency and accountability are critical.