Reprieve planned for vehicle licensing misery
(CNS):
“Current facilities are no longer adequate to meet the demand for the department’s services,” Minister of Communications, Works & Infrastructure Arden McLean said. “Moving to Shamrock Road will also help increase efficiency and alleviate the George Town congestion.”
The main Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL) office in Elgin Avenue has is notorious for long queues and frustrating waits. Once the new office opens, the Elgin Avenue and the Walkers Road locations will be closed.
According to plans the larger facility will offer two inspection pits, one for heavy equipment the other for all other vehicles, as well as a 400 sq ft gazebo and an 84-space car park. The building will also be built to category 5 hurricane standards.
Government said construction is scheduled for completion by January 2010 and will be constructed by Edgewater Development Ltd
Category: Local News
I will be the first to admit that there is a desperate need to improve the level of service that the Public Service currently provides. However, I am reminded of the excellent service that I received from the Manager of the DMV. Although I was not too happy with my particular situation, he explained to me (and showed me the relevant law) and guided me on how to remedy my problem.
Unfortunately, this cannot be said about all of those in the service, but this gentleman is a great example of what we should be getting.
I can’t remember his name, but I do know he was Caymanian…last name was Hassan or something of the sorts. will agree that customer service through out Government needs to improve, however I would like to take a moment to
Just reading an interesting book called Naked Economics, and one point the author makes is that where one has no choice but to follow whatever the procedure is (eg you have to go to Vehicle Licencing in order to avoid breaking the law by being unlicenced), it is very, very difficult to maintain the same level of customer service as in a free market situation.
So, irrespective of quality of building etc, the concern has to still remain on the human side, ie
a) what incentive is there for the management and staff to provide a better service and to keep striving to improve efficiency and quality of service, and (and here is the tricky bit for a government department with a monopoly situation),
b) what negative consequences are there for this department and the managers and staff if they do not do a good job, as it is not as if we can avoid going there, we have no choice.
As to the comments on emissions testing… here, here ! It is ludicrous enough that we don’t have ultra low sulfur diesel here, but the fact that exhaust emissions are not tested is just plain irresponsible of our country.
Re location, the location is great, as (thanks to the NRA), we have an excellent bypass system. Outside of our rush hour, if you are coming from West Bay (and i have to assume that is the direction the poster who objected to the location is coming from), if you turn onto the bypass anywhere on West Bay Road, you can be pretty much sure of being at this new location in 5-8 minutes, plus parking will be a whole lot easier than at the current Vehicle Licencing location.
If vehicle tags were issued for longer periods of time, the need for staff and buildings to house the license office function could be reduced. Why not reduce the cost of the bureaucracy, avoid capital projects, and save time for vehicle owners ?
You are able to inspect and license your New Vehicle for up to three years and up to two years for Second Hand vehicles at the discretion of the Vehicle Inspector. You can also have your vehicle inspected at about 10 private garages if it is less than one ton. You can also obtain a drivers licence for up to five years. More information can be found at http://www.dvdl.gov.ky
I agree, I hope they soon start mandating exhaust checks and don’t allow vehicles to drive around polluting our air. I was in traffic behind someone who obviously hasn’t had an oil change in years and the fumes coming out was crazy. I was in town and it looked so bad to see the tourists on the sidewalks with this hero coming through fuming up the area. Toxic fumes and our Dept of Vehicle Licensing needs to start setting limits and testing vehicles for this while they’re checking out everything else.
There should also be a phone number to call to report ‘guilty’ vehicles/owners – could use the same number to report reckless drivers.
Don’t they think that it is hard enough now for people applying for drivers licences to get to Walker’s Road? Lots of people are waiting to get their licence before purchasing a car these days. For this side of the island, how in the world are people supposed to get to shamrock road. Government should have triedto buy the old Eden Centre and turn that into the office they needed. 🙁
I hope that they include updated exhaust level checks and do no longer issue licenses to those vehicles that can not pass these test. We are in the year 2009 and have to take responsiblity for our environment and control the damage that is being done.
I would like to congratulate the Government on this project. This is one that should have been done years ago.
I am assuming that the drawing attached to this posting is the building referenced in the story. If that is the case this is one of the worst designs I have ever seen. It looks as if someone in high school ‘designed’ this building. The curved roofs are very expensive to build. The area on the right hand side looks as if it is over 3 storeys high! Why?? The building is built to cat5 hurricane rating–that is also crazy….the only buildings that need these levels of strength and cost are essential services. This is a waste of our money and we have to stop building these ridiculous buildings. You can always tell it is election time–the ground breaking and ribbon cutting is upon us!
That’s great but much like the new schools, it will only make a difference if the staff are properly trained and adequate policies and procedures are put in place, we wait in hope….