Contributors
Below are links to some of our talented and generous contributors:
(Some prefer to be anonymous)
Craig Phang Sang
Mojiba Romanetti
Dwight Thompson
Mutabaruka
Dave Colleymore
Shaun Reid
Larnelle Francois Chambers
Tishauna Mullings
Courtney mcintosh
Glenford smith
Juleus Ghunta
Maia Chung
I am so happy I found this blog! I have been blogging about New York City- QUEEN RA LOVES NEW YORK CITY and I would lovde to wirte a blog column for you when I return to Westmoreland in two weeks! Bless Up Mutabaruka and all other writers!
We are looking for contributors and looking forward to hearing from you
The Stamping Incident or Jamaica! It will beat you down.
A Brief Profile:
I am 65 years old, 5ft 4ins short and 150 lbs soaking wet. My blood pressure is severely elevated. In addition, I recently had prostrate surgery. My doctors warned me against heavy lifting.
I have resided abroad for the past 48 years. I make frequent visits to Jamaica. On my visits I use a family car, which I share with my children, who currently also reside abroad.
On my most recent visit, I neglected to determine the car’s registered status, prior to driving.
The Incident:
I was stopped by a motor cycle officer in Mandeville. The officer issued a citation for driving an unregistered vehicle, as the expired registration had exceeded the grace period by 5 days.
He also suggested that I remove my personal belongings from the car, as it is being impounded.
Feeling extremely vulnerable, I took my 35 lb bag, with my most important documents and started what would be my nightmare into hell, otherwise known as the Jamaican bureaucracy.
Location: Mandeville
Mandeville is one long parking lot during the day, as such, taking a taxi for short distances is quite inefficient.
Step 1: To the Tax Office.
I walked to the Tax Office, approximately 1/2 mile away, where a very pleasant lady directed me to the inquiry window. From there, I was then directed to the payment window. The clerk questioned whether I had visited the inquiry window, as there was no stamp to indicate that I had made that visit. I answered in the affirmative. I made the required payments, after which she enthusiastically stamped several documents. Three stamped documents were returned to me.
While in the Tax Office, I decided to pay the traffic citation. The clerk almost gleefully stamped the traffic ticket and receipt after receiving J$10,000 in fines.
Step 2: Off to the Pound.
I took the new registration form to the Pound, approximately ¼ of a mile away. There, I was informed that I would have to return to the Tax Office to retrieve a copy of the traffic ticket, as the issuing officer’s name did not appear on the Tax Office receipt.
Step 3: Back to the Tax Office.
I walked, carrying my 35 lb bag, back to the Tax Office. The offending ticket was retrieved. A supervisor made a photocopy and applied an authenticating stamp, after which she asked the clerk to initial the document. The clerk offered some resistance, but eventually relented.
Step 4: Back to the Pound.
I walked back to the Pound, where two individuals each filled out forms, recorded information and applied stamps. The second person instructed me to take the forms to the police station, where the issuing officer and a superintendent are to sign for the car’s release.
Step 5: To the Police Station.
I walked to the Police Station. No one was available to sign the documents. Before I took a taxi to a relative’s home, I asked for a telephone number in order to call to confirm the officers’ availability prior to returning the station. I called about ten times. I did not receive a response.
Step 6: Back to the Police Station.
After several hours of unanswered calls, I took a taxi to the Police Station. I was informed that a superintendent had just departed the station. I inquired as to why my calls had gone unanswered. I was told that the number I was given was assigned to the other superintendent and he was not available. After waiting about an hour a superintendent arrived and my documents were promptly signed and stamped by both he and a traffic division officer.
Step 7: To the Transport Authority.
I took a taxi to the Transport Authority’s office to pay towing and storage fees. It was closed. I continued in the taxi to my place of residence.
Step 8: Back to the Transport Authority.
The next morning I took a taxi to the Transport Authority’s office. The clerk perused and stamped the documents. She also completed two deposit slips and handed them to me with instructions to make the appropriate deposits at NCB; after which I am to return with the stamped receipts to demonstrate that I have actually paid the fees.
Step 9: Off to the Bank.
I took a taxi to NCB. I utilized the Golden age line to make the deposits. The deposit slips were dutifully stamped.
Step 10: Back again to the Transport Authority.
I took a taxi back to the Transport Authority’ office, with the deposit slips. Two individuals lackadaisically signed and stamped the documents, then instructed me to take the release form to the Pound.
Step 11: Off finally to retrieve the vehicle.
I took a taxi to the Pound where the documents were recorded and stamped by two individuals. I was instructed to show the security guard the documents on my way out with the car.
Step 12: Leaving the Pound.
The security guard recorded and stamped the documents before allowing me to depart the Pound.
My thoughts, as I departed the Pound: “Jamaica! It beats you down”.
This is a great blog.
Very nice blog. please take some time out and review my videos on Jamaica; the microdac channel on youtube. Thanks.
I just discovered this blog. I think it is done very well, with great content.
I just discovered this blog. I think it is done very well, with great content.
Very nice blog. please take some time out and review my videos on Jamaica; the microdac channel on youtube. Thanks.
The Stamping Incident or Jamaica! It will beat you down.
A Brief Profile:
I am 65 years old, 5ft 4ins short and 150 lbs soaking wet. My blood pressure is severely elevated. In addition, I recently had prostrate surgery. My doctors warned me against heavy lifting.
I have resided abroad for the past 48 years. I make frequent visits to Jamaica. On my visits I use a family car, which I share with my children, who currently also reside abroad.
On my most recent visit, I neglected to determine the car’s registered status, prior to driving.
The Incident:
I was stopped by a motor cycle officer in Mandeville. The officer issued a citation for driving an unregistered vehicle, as the expired registration had exceeded the grace period by 5 days.
He also suggested that I remove my personal belongings from the car, as it is being impounded.
Feeling extremely vulnerable, I took my 35 lb bag, with my most important documents and started what would be my nightmare into hell, otherwise known as the Jamaican bureaucracy.
Location: Mandeville
Mandeville is one long parking lot during the day, as such, taking a taxi for short distances is quite inefficient.
Step 1: To the Tax Office.
I walked to the Tax Office, approximately 1/2 mile away, where a very pleasant lady directed me to the inquiry window. From there, I was then directed to the payment window. The clerk questioned whether I had visited the inquiry window, as there was no stamp to indicate that I had made that visit. I answered in the affirmative. I made the required payments, after which she enthusiastically stamped several documents. Three stamped documents were returned to me.
While in the Tax Office, I decided to pay the traffic citation. The clerk almost gleefully stamped the traffic ticket and receipt after receiving J$10,000 in fines.
Step 2: Off to the Pound.
I took the new registration form to the Pound, approximately ¼ of a mile away. There, I was informed that I would have to return to the Tax Office to retrieve a copy of the traffic ticket, as the issuing officer’s name did not appear on the Tax Office receipt.
Step 3: Back to the Tax Office.
I walked, carrying my 35 lb bag, back to the Tax Office. The offending ticket was retrieved. A supervisor made a photocopy and applied an authenticating stamp, after which she asked the clerk to initial the document. The clerk offered some resistance, but eventually relented.
Step 4: Back to the Pound.
I walked back to the Pound, where two individuals each filled out forms, recorded information and applied stamps. The second person instructed me to take the forms to the police station, where the issuing officer and a superintendent are to sign for the car’s release.
Step 5: To the Police Station.
I walked to the Police Station. No one was available to sign the documents. Before I took a taxi to a relative’s home, I asked for a telephone number in order to call to confirm the officers’ availability prior to returning the station. I called about ten times. I did not receive a response.
Step 6: Back to the Police Station.
After several hours of unanswered calls, I took a taxi to the Police Station. I was informed that a superintendent had just departed the station. I inquired as to why my calls had gone unanswered. I was told that the number I was given was assigned to the other superintendent and he was not available. After waiting about an hour a superintendent arrived and my documents were promptly signed and stamped by both he and a traffic division officer.
Step 7: To the Transport Authority.
I took a taxi to the Transport Authority’s office to pay towing and storage fees. It was closed. I continued in the taxi to my place of residence.
Step 8: Back to the Transport Authority.
The next morning I took a taxi to the Transport Authority’s office. The clerk perused and stamped the documents. She also completed two deposit slips and handed them to me with instructions to make the appropriate deposits at NCB; after which I am to return with the stamped receipts to demonstrate that I have actually paid the fees.
Step 9: Off to the Bank.
I took a taxi to NCB. I utilized the Golden age line to make the deposits. The deposit slips were dutifully stamped.
Step 10: Back again to the Transport Authority.
I took a taxi back to the Transport Authority’ office, with the deposit slips. Two individuals lackadaisically signed and stamped the documents, then instructed me to take the release form to the Pound.
Step 11: Off finally to retrieve the vehicle.
I took a taxi to the Pound where the documents were recorded and stamped by two individuals. I was instructed to show the security guard the documents on my way out with the car.
Step 12: Leaving the Pound.
The security guard recorded and stamped the documents before allowing me to depart the Pound.
My thoughts, as I departed the Pound: “Jamaica! It beats you down”.
Just remember, despite of Jamaica’s popularity around the world some businesses are still operating in the 1960s mentality.
I am so happy I found this blog! I have been blogging about New York City- QUEEN RA LOVES NEW YORK CITY and I would lovde to wirte a blog column for you when I return to Westmoreland in two weeks! Bless Up Mutabaruka and all other writers!
..the issue of ” bad gas : in Jamaica is an issue that cannot be glossed over with tales of contaminants by minister paulwell..it is a much larger issue..Jamaicans need to be made aware of the destructive qualities of ethanol added gaseline….in Jamaica that is E10 87 and 90…it was forced upon the Jamaican public by the very minister who is now ” investigating ” bad gas…when E10 was introduced claims were made that it would be cheaper and cleaner..those claims are unfounded.no alternative was offered..such as leadfree 87 and premium….most vehicles in Jamaica are designed to run on unleaded…not E10…what is happening is that E10 is slowly corroding away your fuel systems costing you many thousands of dollars in repairs..some of us,i am an engineer,know this..most Jamaicans are unaware of it…mr paulwell is only paying lip service to this issue..he is covering up the root cause of the problem…E10 itself…my website #jamaicabadgas will explain in full….happy reading..x
Hello admin,
I’d love to contribute to this blog.
I operate a technology company here on the island and would love to contribute Digital Marketing and technology-focused pieces to your blog.
How could we achieve this?
Thanks for this medium. I wish I had found it a month earlier.