Kelly

Bwoy, wi miserable!

The new transport centre is open and already, some have long lost their patience with it.

Last Monday, the centre got its first full test. By Monday afternoon, persons were calling it a terrible idea and basically sounded like it was the worst building ever built, a grand waste of time. I could mention a certain stadium in Trelawny that fits that category, but I digress. Anyway, it all goes to show that Jamaicans have no patience, whatsoever.

If the national team gets a new coach, we want the team to start winning immediately, if not sooner. Last year's Cricket World Cup had a few snags but didn't we all have fun eventually? Same with this centre. Everyone involved in the transport centre, from the passengers to the business people who will operate the stores won't acclimatise just like that. Once the teething pains stop, I think we have a good thing going here.

Best laid plans

Sure, the management team had months to plan for all incidents, but even the best laid plans can go off track (ask any event planner). So, to be chastising everybody from the security guards to the transport authorities is really unnecessary and uncalled for. What bothers me even more is that some of the same individuals who complained so bitterly are the same ones who are going to deface the property with graffiti, toss their garbage everywhere (except in the bins) and fail to follow the instructions. Heck, half of them bawling about no signs probably can't even read so well!

Some persons were adamant that the signs should have been provided first. A good point they do have but as one official said to an irate commuter on Monday, they should have been grateful that at least someone was there to help them out. Furthermore, and this is merely a gut feeling, I honestly feel that those who expressed those sentiments would simply have found something else to moan about if there were adequate signage. We're Jamaicans and arguably, grumbling is what we do best!

On the flip side, those praising the centre and making it sound like the greatest thing ever may be pushing it a bit. I suggest we all step back and give the centre a good three, four months before we make any decisions as to whether it is money well spent.

I believe we need to get to a point where we give things time to unfold and stop using sprint measurements to judge a marathon. If the service at the centre is as fast as Jamaicans jump to conclusions, this system will be quite efficient, indeed.