Ms. Valeta Best Postmaster General acting.
The Postmaster General salutes our Postal workers, today, October 9th, World Post Day, as we bring recognition to the indelible contribution given by all staff throughout the year.
Worthy of note is the commitment and dedication of the staff who worked diligently and tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period. Postal Workers went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the needs of all customers were met. The Barbados Postal Service (BPS) played a key role in reaching out to people across the island amidst the pandemic, as mail continued to be delivered, pensions cashed and bills accepted for payment.
Barbados Postal Service, from its’ inception, has contributed to the social and economic development of the island, innovating services to facilitate business and communication locally and internationally. To meet the changing needs of its publics, the Post Office continues to introduce new services, seeking every opportunity to innovate, while remaining relevant in the changing communication landscape and making a contribution to the social and economic development of the country.
The Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), in his World Post Day message, “More Than Mail”, opined that “Innovation, Integration and Inclusion are the key drivers for the future of the Post”. He noted that, “from liberalization to privatization and the emergence of competition, the Post has faced many challenges to its survival, but none so daunting as the development of modern information technology”.
The focus on innovation, integration and inclusion will create a strong Post for the future, ensuring a postal presence that continues to be visible and relevant. Technological change, digitization and big data have transformed customer needs, thus leading to the creation of new products and services.
In addition to the Agency Service which includes the acceptance of all utility payments, the post office has embarked on the delivery of Drivers’ License and Barbados Passports. With the rise of digital technologies and e-commerce, Post Office stands ready to introduce additional services as we implement the current Postal Reform Strategy.
Today, Post worldwide is witnessing a decline in the traditional mail delivery business, but however the Barbados Post is repositioning itself through training, technology and systems to capitalize on the growing ecommerce market.
In the words of the Director General of the UPU, “We have always delivered. The year 2020 was the year that the Postal Industry showed the world its resilience, its determination, and the invaluable role it plays in every society”. We showed “we are more than mail”.