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A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to strengthen the stakeholder partnership supporting the annual Jamaica Customer Service Poetry Competition.
The competition, jointly organised by the Jamaica Customer Service Association (JaCSA) and Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) whose representatives signed the MOU, is open to primary, secondary and tertiary students.
They are invited to draft and submit poems reflecting the theme for each year’s observance of National Customer Service Week, with the category winners each receiving a trophy and cash prize.
The competition has gained attention for featuring talented young poets, such as 11-year-old Ngozi Wright, whose astonishingly good poem about the need for respect and professionalism in customer service won her the top prize in the primary category in 2023.
Her poem was entitled We Deserve It.
We deserve it – Excellent Service
We deserve it – Service with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
You a run party shop or circus?
We deserve it – Excellent Service
We deserve it – Serve us with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
Professionalism anytime yuh serve us
We know it’s very hard to serve,
Sometimes customer get pon yuh nerves,
But protocols have to observe,
Give customers what them deserve.
Every man, woman and child,
Appreci-love service with a smile,
Patience when tempers boil,
Nuh act vile, serve with style
Style, dignity and class
Whether worker, manager or boss
Efficiency, we endorse,
Get through fast, no time lost.
We deserve it – Excellent Service
We deserve it – Service with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
You a run party shop or circus?
We deserve it – Excellent Service
We deserve it – Serve us with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
Professionalism anytime yuh serve us
Yuh see mi in the line, nuh act like yuh blind,
Watch clock a pass time, try and be kind
We will always remember your kindness,
When we are treated like “your highness”
We know yu want customers fi return,
So careful of the bridges you burn,
A caring smile can make one’s day,
Show compassion says JaCSA
Be the best you can be,
Spread cheers, says JCDC…
The MOU formalises the partnership between the two organisations in coordinating the competition, which is a highlight of the annual NCSW activities and Service Excellence Conference, which are staged in October each year.
JCDC Executive Director, Lenford Salmon, and JaCSA Deputy Chairman and NCSW Chair, Richard Rowe, signed the MOU during a ceremony at the Commission’s head office in Kingston on Friday (October 11).
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr. Rowe expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership with the JCDC in engaging students in the area of customer service.
“This is an opportunity for them (students) to express themselves and allow Jamaica to see customer service and service excellence through their eyes. So we are really happy about this partnership and the possibilities that exist with our young people,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Salmon said the JCDC is happy to assist with raising awareness about the importance of service excellence.
“Once we instill good customer service in them, it reflects greatly on our future experiences,” he said, adding that the Commission will lend its expertise in cultural development and talent nurturing.
For this year’s competition, students were invited to submit poems reflecting the theme for NCSW, from October 6-12: ‘Service Excellence: Taking Jamaica Above and Beyond’. The winners will be announced shortly.
The St. Kitts Nevis Observer asked an artificial intelligence engine to write a poem about customer service in Jamaica, and this was the result.
In Montego bay, whether its low or high tide,
Customer service is full of pride.
Caribbean waves from ripple to breaker
Greet you calling out, “Welcome to Jamaica!”
Source: Jamaica GIS.
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