Dear Editor,

Jamaica cannot afford to delay any longer in giving every household, business, and place of residence a proper, standardised address.

Ambassador Audrey Marks, our minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for efficiency, innovation, and digital transformation, recently endorsed the Digital Postal Codes Initiative as a critical step towards solving this long-standing problem. She rightly noted that such innovation can modernise public services, improve efficiency, and strengthen Jamaica’s logistics ecosystem.

Just weeks ago I was directed to Kingston Wharves to collect items. Despite using GPS, I spent nearly 30 minutes circling the area before personnel on the ground finally guided me to the precise location. In this day and age, such inefficiency is unacceptable. A clear, reliable addressing system would have eliminated that frustration.

The need is even more pressing given the explosion of online shopping. Jamaicans are now ordering daily from platforms such as Shein, Fashion Nova, Amazon, and countless other apps. At the same time, multiple shipping companies are thriving, serving hundreds of customers across the island. Internally, services like Doorway Express and other courier networks are expanding rapidly, yet they, too, struggle with the absence of standardised household numbers and addresses.

Without proper addressing, deliveries are delayed, GPS systems fail, and businesses lose valuable time and money. More importantly, citizens are left frustrated when modern conveniences are undermined by outdated infrastructure.

Minister Marks must move swiftly to implement this system. Proper household numbers and addresses are not just about convenience, they are about efficiency, safety, and national progress. Jamaica has to get this right if we are serious about moving with the times.

Leecent Wallace

Principal of Christiana High School

leecentw@yahoo.com