30369: : (reply) re 30366 from Labrom - communications in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

voyageslumierehaiti@gmail.com

What annoys me is that the cell phone companies are ONLY concerned
with selling phones and perhaps Internet connection. But are NOT
interested in giving service, which of course is an age old problem in
Haiti. CONATEL, the Association of Phone companies in Haiti does not
seem to be doing anything about this either although they are quite
visible on Television giving interviews etc.

If you could persuade companies to pay the money, one could make a
fortune in giving Customer care seminars here.

My other old complaint is about the Banks who make money on your money!

Case in point: A client/friend of mine needed to pay me for a tour, so
paid me on a US check which I told him would normally take 45 working
days to clear in Haiti!! Because I am a stroppy person I have stamped
up and down in Sogebank and demanded that they make the money
available earlier, so they now give me a special dispensation and
clear the money in 15 working days. Even that is ridiculous in these
days of electronic banking. Anyway my client told me that the check
had cleared within 3 days from of me depositing it in my bank so I
thought I would check after 10 days - and sure enough, NO it was not
yet cleared for me to use!!  They are making interest on my money.
Someone told me one of the reasons for this is that when the banks
need to borrow money, the money they are allowed to borrow depends on
how much money they have in their bank on that particular day, so if
they give me and all the other people their money within 1 week then
they won't have as much money on deposit!!

And for your information it's exactly the same for traveler's checks -
if you receive traveler's checks, as I do often, they will not clear
for 15 days - now I have a special dispensation for 10 days. And these
are CASH!!!

I brought this up to the Ex Sec. of State for Tourism, Maryse Penette
Kedar a long time ago when I was working for her, and nothing was able
to be done. I will try and bring it up again with Patrick Delatour,
the new Min. of Tourism. Tourists will not want to come in with cash.

Jacqui Labrom
--
Voyages Lumière SA
email: voyageslumierehaiti@gmail.com
Tel: (00 509) 249-6177
Cellphones: (00 509) 557-0753/607-1321

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