Bureaucratic boondoggle, darts and roses

AFTER what seems to be another bureaucratic boondoggle, Panama’s Electoral Tribunal has suspended the issuance of identity cards to minors under 17.

For thousands of young card seekers it meant hours of standing in line, reminiscent of the hassle when the government changed the driving license format, and thousands of drivers traveled to different locations in the city, only to be told they were at the wrong spot, wrong time.

The processing of identity cards for youths will re-start after the May 4 election. That will give the agency time to generate a new strategy and a gradual program that does not impact users.
Meanwhile, the organization sais that the youth card “is not mandatory” and that “Social Security does not require it to provide services to its policyholders.” Which raises the question: If they don’t need them, why issue them? or is Panama’s Big Brother seeking another control mechanism, when it can easily  copy the NSA model of  surveillance of Facebook, LinkedIn, your cell phone etc.
The agency had set a Dec. 31 deadline for issuing the IDs to all youths, but has extended it due to the problems it has encountered says La Prensa
Newsroom receives regular, complaints about local service, gouging, noise, traffic, bureaucracy, the cops and more, from readers, either by email or via the comment columns. Some of them are genuine grouses, others from fellow GOMs (grumpy Old Men) who woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or on the floor, and had to sound off at someone … and why not Newsroom with its two thousand odd page visits a day?

NEWSROOM AWARDS

We rarely get messages praising something pleasant that has happened, and that’s a shame, so to start the darts flying and the petals falling, here’s are first roses and darts awards culled from my own recent experiences
Your contributions will be welcomed. Just address them to dyoung@newsroompanama.com and make the subject “roses” or “thorns,” whichever you are proposing.

DARTS

Visited three car dealers last week  in search of a new vehicle and a trade-in for my unloved jalopy.

At Suzuki, a disinterested salesman without inspecting the vehicle, made a phone call and gave a low ball quote that set me back on my heels. He promised to call later with another price. Still waiting to hear.
At Toyota told to make an appointment for the quote. A man checked the car, and 20 minutes after he finished, sales lady promised to call in one hour. No contact until my wife called 36 hours later, but trade-in price was $3,500 above Suzuki offer.

ROSES

We had visited Honda before the other two dealers. Friendly sales lady, fast service, immediate trade-in quote $3,000, better than Suzuki. Provided with a quote for the new vehicle which included price list for servicing after delivery. Later raised the trade-in price to match Toyota.
RIBA SMITH Bella Vista gets a rose for its “no plastic bags” days and having paper,  and cardboard recycling bins.