Why I hate monopolies!!!

Paying my water and electricity bills this morning reinforced my utter dislike for monopolies. Thinking I could take advantage of the time of the month, when there's likely to be less congestion at the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) branch on High Street, I traipsed in a few minutes after 8 a.m.

A number of people also had the same idea, but I was not overly worried thinking it would not take too much time. After a few minutes standing in line, I realised that only two cashiers - one for the general public and the other for senior citizens and pensioners - were open out of a total of eight (8). From the mutterings around me, it came to my attention that the paying public were not happy with this particular situation as some of them were trying to pay before heading in for work.

I noticed an APUA supervisor scurrying in the background, but no one came forward to tell John Public what was causing the delay. A few people left the queue not wanting to raise their employers wrath by arriving late for work. It eventually transpired after listening in to another customer asking the cashier what was happening, that their computer system is down.

This brings to the fore the importance of communicating with the public and promting good will. A notice at the entrance could have prevented some customers from wasting their time in line and eventually leaving or at least prepare them for the delay.

Am happy to saw I didn't give up and a few minutes before the hour of 9, I paid my bills; however, I still don't like monopolies!

Politics galore!!!

Its a new year with new hopes and aspirations. We saw history made with the swearing in of Barack Obama as the United States 1st African-American president.

I hope the rest of the world will look at Michelle Obama as more than a fashion icon but as an educated black woman who is also able to stand side by side by her husband. May the rest of the world also look at their children as an example of how black children are well-behaved and not the stereotyping so evident on TV and movies!!

Well after a long hiatus that's my spiel to kick off the new year.

Politics is heating up in Antigua & Barbuda as the main political parties -the ruling UPP & opposition ALP- jockey for votes in the upcoming elections this year. My wish is for the political leaders to advise and caution their supporters that violence of any kind will not be tolerated as we choose who will lead us for the next five years!!! That should be left for when voters cast their ballots they mark their X. After all we still have to live with each other after the dust has settled and wouldn't want to plunge our beloved country into chaos like we see on TV.

Having lived with refugees back in Zambia, as the country is a haven for those escaping conflict in trouble torn countries, I speak from experience about the heart ache these people suffer. Not knowing where some of the family members are or if they are even alive! So let us agree to differ and restrict our "war" to words.