Letter Box MUST be at your Gate for delivery

Deputy Postmaster General (Administration), Mrs Glennamoe McNabb, is 'talking tough' regarding the long-standing need for postal service customers to have a letter box installed at their gate to receive mail.
The postal executive indicated that the previous stance of a plea for conformity has now shifted to a policy decision. She stated: "The postal service, being mindful of our mandate to deliver to the address - and by that I mean at the gate, not the front porch or the receptionist's desk - is seeking to effectively perform its communications role while protecting team members.
Traditionally, Postmen have assisted persons without a letter box on the gate by carrying their mail to the door, but you will now have to assist them by getting one installed, as the mail service provider is now about to implement a new "official policy" on the matter. "Since the article published in The Gleaner of May 8, 2006, in which we appealed to customers, we have continued to record instances in which Postmen have been bitten by dogs when assisting customers by carrying their mail to the verandah. We note in such situations the repeated reluctance of residents to provide medical treatment financing or reimbursement for the wounded Postman.

This poses a serious threat to our wish for them to go over and beyond the call of duty. This must now, therefore, be delineated by an official policy on the matter. According to McNabb, problems created for the friendly 'Postie' in your neighbourhood include- but are not limited to- the very grave danger of being attacked by dogs and taking much longer to complete a delivery route. When the Postman arrives at a premises that does not have a letter box, he/she rings the bell to alert occupants to come for their mail. If no one is available then the mail for that address will be returned to the General Delivery at the post office which serves that address. Of course, if a letter box is at your gate you avoid this consequence.

Jamaica Post maintains its commitment to constantly improving its quality of service and therefore implores customers to have a letter box placed at their gate. They are available at most hardware and haberdashery stores in different sizes.

Customers: the Postman's commitment is to deliver to the address, meaning at the gate.

Photo by Gordon Brown: Postman Keith Hendricks of Vineyard Town Post Office ( Kingston 3), is seen completing his mail delivery at a gate in this file photo. Traditionally, Postmen have assisted persons without a letter box at the gate by carrying their mail up to the door, but you will now have to get one installed, as the postal service is about to implement a policy restricting Postmen to deliver only to the gate and not enter premises.