World Post Day is observed each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on October 9th, 1874. In The Bahamas, the Post Office Department will mark this occasion with a week of activities from October 5 to 11.
The local postal service began recognizing World Post Day some 12 years ago with Post Office employee activities, and issued a proclamation on the history or achievements of the international postal service. Since then, World Post Day has evolved into a week of activities under the direction of Post Master General Godfrey Clarke.
According to Mabelene Miller, Post Office CEO/Training Officer and Chairperson of the World Post Day Committee, the objectives of World Post Day celebrations are to “unite the staff in a time of fellowship and to seek to improve the product and delivery of service.”
Among the activities planned for this year are: a church service 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, at Zion Baptist Church on East and Shirley Streets, speaking engagements at primary schools, a luncheon to announce the 2008 Employee of the Year and recognize outstanding employees, tours of the Post Office for high students and employee Tee Shirt day on Friday, October 10.
Nominations are being accepted from staff members for Employee of the Year for each Department. The criteria includes: dependability, punctuality, interpersonal skills, initiative, social outreach etc.
At the luncheon each nominee receives a certificate and the Employee of the Year is announced. Among the prizes the winner receives are: a reserved parking space for a year and a plaque. The current Employee of the Year is Sheree Minnis.
Students from high schools throughout New Providence have been invited to write letters and address them to family and friends locally or abroad. They will take these letters to the Post Office on the day of the arranged tours.
“We will allow them to purchase stamps from the Stamp Counter here and show them how to put the stamps on because not everyone knows how to address a letter and put on stamps.
“Then we will show them how to drop the letters in the mail bag and we will clear the mail. We will actually demonstrate the mail process with the students’ letters. Obviously some will reach to their destinations before others,” Ms. Miller explained.