God help all of the businesses in the Caribbean and Central American region. We have been reliant on tourism and foreign exchange for most of our existence if not all of it and with the COVID-19 everything has dried up- tourism and agricultural exports. All gone!
What’s worst: Many of us have not undertaken the structural adjustments needed to reform our economies, reduce inflation and strengthen labour markets. To top it all off, we have an ignorance problem with our service workers in all sectors, public and private.
Ever called an office one week, got an answer and called the same office a week later and got totally different guidance?
We called a well-known bank and asked if they offered e-commerce solutions and the young man responded no in his Consuela voice. If you don’t know who Consuela is, then you need to watch the adult cartoon Family Guy. Just do a quick YouTube search and hear how she responds. That is just how the young man sounded. But, I called the very same bank on the very same number a week later, just to test my hunch of the incompetence that they have out and someone else gave me totally separate information. What a trip? Do you see how this first responder wasted a week of my time if I was really inclined to do business with them?
The only thing I can say is that God is guiding me at the times in my life, keeping me out of trouble and steering me into his greener pastures. I trust in him!
But don’t even get me started on government services. I know all of us on every island and in every country have issues with public servants either not answering the telephones and if they do, they drill you around from desk to desk trying to find the right person to give you the wrong information. I’m not venting here, but this is serious. Months have passed and many of us have not gotten what we set out to get.
Is this just a developmental trap where many of us are just poorly trained and lack education? I don’t think it is that because there is enough intellectual leadership that can steer the blind in the right path. I do think, however, it is an excuse to mask corruption and thievery.
You see? You don’t expect a dumb-bunny to shake you down, do you? But that is what many of them want- a little lunch money for the day and you can get this certificate today, on the spot. No problem.
We have to stop this. We can’t continue like this. COVID-19 has shown us that we can do things differently and professionally from remote areas, so we are not as dumb as we play.
Let’s get better people!