Dear Editor,

I visited the Island Traffic Authority’s Swallowfield Examination Depot on Thursday, February 11, 2016 around 3:45 pm to find no one around. This, despite its signage indicating that the opening hours for the day ran up to 5:00 pm.

I returned the following afternoon, Friday, in hope of having my vehicle passed and a certificate of fitness issued.

I was engaged by an officer of the facility who performed a complete test, including lights, brakes, horns, and drivability.

He indicated that I needed to get work done on the lighting system (head lamps, brake lights, light about licence plate).

I left, got the work done, and returned before 3:00 pm.

On my return, I was advised by an attendant that they were closed for the day and would need to try again on Monday.

Now, I have followed all the rules and tried to honour my obligations to get this done above board, despite the protestations of friends that “nobody takes their car to get it passed”, but it seems I am being shafted as Dr Peter Phillips once said.

I know that the country is under threat of ZIKV, but I haven’t heard that it has been affecting the staffing at government offices. And I don’t imagine that everyone is out on the election campaign trail.

All I ask is that the management and staff honour the hours stated on the sign it has erected to advise customers; nothing more, nothing less. This disregard for people’s time and being held hostage to when they feel like staying to the close of day slaps in the face of law-abidung citizens.

When I went to pay the fee for the service, in advance, there was no challenge to take my money. Why now do as they please?

The sign says that the entity is an agency of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, and I know the minister is distracted by the hustings, but I ask someone to give attention to the issue. Even a patty shop respects its opening and closing hours.

Little Man

bigzy_2000@yahoo.com