The Editor, Sir:

In what I consider a short period of time, I've required the services of the '119 emergency line' on quite a few occasions. On each of these occasions, I was met with constant disappointment in the poor manner in which the service was administered.

On one occasion, I called to obtain an ambulance which was needed for a person who had drowned. In addition to asking what I deemed to be a series of unnecessary questions, I was asked to repeat myself several times. The service was thoroughly delayed, and poorly conducted. After a lengthy process, the ambulance was finally dispatched. As I heard the sirens wailing throughout the neighbourhood while several wrong turns were made, I could only sit there in frustration, and wonder if a more efficiently managed service, indeed could have saved a life.

Frustrated agent

On another occasion, I went to my place of business minutes after it had been burglarised. I must confess that in the somewhat dejected mood that I was in, I had spoken to the agent on the line at a volume which would be considered by most to be less than acceptable in normal conversation. As the sound of a radio playing loudly in the background of the agent came through the phone, she had to ask me to repeat myself five times. After each of those times, I spoke much louder, but her surrounding noise made it difficult for her to hear me. She subsequently let me know that she was frustrated, followed by her hanging up! I called back, only for that episode to repeat itself three more times.

It became apparent to me, that if the incident was occurring with the burglars still on the premises, and I had to speak in a low voice in an effort to save my own life, then calling 119 would not only have proven futile for me, but also quite dangerous.

Prioritisation needed

Now I understand that in an economy that struggles with limited resources, and various departments and needs all fighting for a piece of the same pie, everything can never be perfect. In fact, I am aware of several prank calls (perhaps over 90 per cent ) which are made to the emergency line. Perhaps, this contributes to the manner in which the calls are being handled.

Yet, we must, as a nation, prioritise the allocation of our resources. No doubt everything has a price, but let us weigh those costs against the value of saving one human life.

I am, etc.,

MANOJ RAMCHANDANI

manojramchandani@hotmail.com

Montego Bay