THE launch of a Cheddi Jagan Commemorative Stamp is among a series of projects and initiatives which the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) will roll out in 2018, the management in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications announced on Monday.
Though it is an autonomous service provider, the GPOC falls under the portfolio of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. At a news conference on Monday, Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes disclosed that the GPOC has entered into an arrangement with the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, to produce a philatelic stamp to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Dr. Cheddi Jagan – one of Guyana’s Founding Leaders. The former president was born on March 22, 1918.
“The stamp was designed and is being produced by the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation located in New Jersey, USA. This company is a long time philatelic contractor with the GPOC, and I understand that it also produces stamps and related materials for postal services all across the Caribbean,” the minister detailed.
The special Cheddi Jagan Centenary stamp will be unveiled and made available to the public in March, she added, while stating that the corporation looks forward to continuing its relationship with the Research Centre.
REHAB OF POST OFFICES
That aside, Minister Hughes said in moving forward, the GPOC will be carrying out major rehabilitative works on post offices across the country and will simultaneously be equipping them with the necessary technology to allow for greater efficiency.
“In 2016 I found almost every GPO building in a really decrepit state. We intend to change the public perception and at the same time, improve the quality of services we deliver. There are so many benefits all around but the one we want the most is a better relationship with our customers,” she told reporters.
The Public Telecommunications Minister added: “We have a lot of work to do – rehabilitating post office buildings, installing computers and Wi-Fi for the residents to use (in city and towns, inland and hinterland regions), and we are upgrading the quality of services we provide, including services for pensioners, while we add to functions of every neighbourhood post office.”
At the time, Minister Hughes was speaking in the presence of GPOC’s Postmaster General, Karen Brown; Chairman, Reverend Raphael Massiah; and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Telesha Whyte, during a press conference at the Guyana Post Officer Training Centre in Georgetown.
Brown in her presentation, detailed that the post offices in New Amsterdam, Anna Regina, Wales and Bagotville will be rehabilitated this year at a cost of $30M. These facilities, she posited, will have a modern outlook.
“Offices will be equipped with security systems, adequate ICT, air conditioning, weather protection, seating accommodation, lavatory facilities and accessible by the infirm,” Brown explained.
In embracing the Government’s mandate, the postmaster general, said that post offices will facilitate Information Communication and Technology (ICT) hubs within their parameters: “All of which, will provide a conducive environment for engagement; setting the atmosphere for productivity and cohesion,” she posited.
As at December 1, 2017, the GPOC headquarters has been powered by solar system and Guyana Power and Light (GPL) simultaneously, compliments of the Government through the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
Additionally, in the field of ICT, Brown said GPOC plans to be fully computerised by the end of 2018. Already, 54 of the 65 post offices spread across the country are computerised.
And as the GPOC moves to enhance it services, steps are being taken to review a number of internal producers. It is also analysing the possibility of implementing a Postal Code which will aid in mail sortation and delivery. Additionally, the corporation is looking to complete the tasks assigned to it by the Universal Postal Union Operational Readiness for E- Commerce Project (ORE) action plan.
“In August 2017 the Universal Post Union launched its Operational Readiness for E Commerce (ORE) Project for Caribbean Countries. The aim of the project for the Caribbean countries is to address obstacles to online border transactions for customers, help participating Post to modernise operational processes, and use all available standardised IT tools, and End-to-End systems to implement operations solutions that meet e-commerce requirements,” Brown explained.
Creating an End-to-End (E2E) process mapping; completion of the Security Self-Assessment tools, which will enable a Security Audit of GPOC’s operations by the Universal Postal Union; and the acquisition of a an X-ray scanner,” are among the plans earmarked for 2018.
The postmaster general noted that the GPOC acquired the X-Ray Scanner through the UPU Quality of Service Fund. She said while it will aid the corporation in improving the efficiency of its mail operations, it will also help to detect illicit items such as drugs.
The GPOC has also commenced the process of acquiring ownership of the land it occupies in accordance with the Public Corporations (Post Office) Order No.109 of 1976.
The process has started on an initial five plots of land in Bartica, New Amsterdam, Wismar, Charlestown and Anna Regina, to chart the course. According to Brown, surveys have been completed and the plans have already been signed off by the Lands & Survey Commission and are in GPOC’s possession.
It is projected that this initial process will be completed in the second quarter of 2018. She noted that this move will increase the corporation’s asset base and better position it to be modernised. The project is budgeted at $3M.
