Citizens welcome Regal Plaza Collectorate

PEOPLE WHO live or work in the Cross Roads and New Kingston areas of the Corporate Area welcomed the opening yesterday of a new Collectorate near Cross Roads.

The Cross Roads Collectorate, a full-service branch of the Internal Revenue Department, is located in the former Century National Building in Regal Plaza, at the intersection of Eureka Crescent and Old Hope Road. It "will serve the growing needs of Cross Roads, New Kingston, Half-Way Tree and its environs," the Tax Administration Services Department said yesterday.

The Collectorate was opened primarily in response to the growth of the business community in the area and is aimed at easing the pressure of crowding at the Collectorates on King Street, downtown Kingston, and on Constant Spring Road.

At noon yesterday, there was a brisk flow of customers at the new Collectorate. Many welcomed the facility, primarily for its central location which they said made conducting their transactions hassle-free. Some people said they were pleased also, with the customer service there.

"This location is better for me, because to go to Constant Spring is a helluva traffic and downtown Kingston is even worst. I work in this area, so it's more economical for me," Barry Jones, a driver, told The Gleaner. Mr Jones, who was there to pay a traffic ticket fine, said his transaction took all of four minutes because the clerk had to spend time searching for a code which, he said, the policeman who wrote up the ticket had not written on.

"The service is good for the first time. When I came in here, my counter was empty, and I just stepped right up," he said.

Another customer, Yvonne Young, said location was ideal given that she worked just across the road.

There was brisk customer traffic which Meris Haughton, director of public relations, Tax Administration Services Department said had been the case since the office opened at 8 a.m.

"It's going very well. We've been getting a lot of positive responses, persons saying that they like the look of the place, and that the service is quick and that it is very convenient," she said.

Clive Segree, Senior Collector and manager of the newly-opened facility, said the day went smoothly for the most part, with the full complement of staff "geared to go".

Payment by VISA and Mastercard credit cards, which is accepted by 25 other branches of the Internal Revenue Department, is accepted also at the Cross Roads Collectorate. "We also have a 'drop box' policy where people can drop off a document and pick it up in the afternoon at their convenience," he said.

Citizens will be able to access the range of IRD services, such as motor vehicle transfers and licensing, purchasing motor vehicle plates, driver's licence examination fees, motor vehicle fitness fees, payment of all statutory deductions, payment of all licences, payment of property tax, GCT, Income Tax and all other tax types, payment of traffic tickets and renewal of driver's licence.

However, for the renewal of licences which will be processed at Constant Spring, customers will be required to pay the fee, and fill out an application form, accompanied by a photograph. The form will be sent to Constant Spring for processing, but the customer may collect the licence within three to five working days at the Regal Plaza Collectorate, Miss Haughton explained.

Mr Segree said the department was looking at providing additional parking space in front of the building, and behind it, but for now, customers have to use the general parking space available.

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