Non vesting certificate, an ordeal at CMC

BY DUDLEY Jansz

IN this modern age where time management is the buzz word, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) thinks otherwise.

It's time the CMC bigwigs take time management seriously and streamline its departments to provide ratepayers a more efficient and courteous service. Productivity is certainly non existent in the 'CMC dictionary'.

Obtaining a non vesting certificate after going through the initial formalities can turn out to be a veritable ordeal and a harrowing experience.

Imagine being shuttled from one department to another confronting glum officers at various counters which can give you the shudders by their unfriendly looks.

It was around 9.30 am on Wednesday, October 5. There were hardly any officers visible at their seats at the revenue and rates branches.

The few officers were either engaged in animated conversation or sipping tea tucking perhaps their morning breakfast.

When the application form was handed over to the counter the forlorn officer with an air of indifference, grumbled to herself that the pen was playing up, made an entry and directed that the application be minuted by an officer at the revenue branch.

Several minutes ticked by at this branch and a lady officer who eventually turned up minuted the application and directed that the form should be handed over to the Assessor's branch upstairs for the relevant details to be filled.

The Assessor's Department was evidently a hive of activity being 'public day'. Schoolchildren in uniform were hovering around their mothers' desks.

However, the curt reply from the counter clerk was that only one officer was on duty and that the form should be collected the next day waving a pile of applications to be attended to.

Come Thursday back to the Assessor's branch to collect the form and again to the revenue branch for further details to be filled. The merry-go-round continues.

Every cloud has a silver lining and the only efficient female officer at the Despatch Department' from where the form was collected originally renders whatever assistance she could possibly offer and advises that the form be collected the following day.

And on the third day the 'drama' ends with the precious certificate being awarded.