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Shamefully, I have abused the system too...

By: Qwaider

On:Monday, December 24, 2007 9:10:16 PM
In:Thoughts
Viewed: (5573) times

Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
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Rated 4.4/5 stars (163 votes cast) Thanks for your vote!

Although I've always been nepotism (wasta) and corruption number one enemy. I have sadly resorted to some techniques that I'm ashamed to say, not straight!

Like any good Jordanian citizen, I took my passport and went to renew it. Only to be frustrated by the sad realities of the Jordanian workforce. Too much fat, and too little efficiency.

The first level of frustration, was when I arrived ad the Passports section and proceeded to go through the process. I stood in line only to have my privacy bubble completely smashed. People REALLY stick to you around here. And between fermented sweat, and bad breath the whole atmosphere reeked even before the stagnant smoky smell. You will feel eky the minute you step foot inside the directorate

I go to the information section and guess what, they have RUN OUT OF NUMBERS! Oh please! Did you run out of pieces of paper too? Reem Cafeteria in the second circle has hand written numbers, maybe you can take a lesson from them on how to have enough numbers.

Anyway, I got so frustrated that I took my papers and headed back to my car, it was just not gonna happen today. The "Application filler" guy took some pity on me and decided to help my out by sneaking a number that from his pocket! This is an official number taken from the information counter above! Guess, what, it's being sold in the black market.

I was desperate, I snatched the number and raged upstairs. Where was greeted, once again, by application/photocopy vultures. The number I got wasn't all that great, I had like 70 greater than me so I decided I would get a cup of coffee. But surprise surprise, the coffee dude, new a guy, who knew a guy, who has connection inside the "cage". He said he can help me. I said, please do!

He took me to one of the clerks and later on he called my name. Took my papers, bam bam, traak skreetch ... I had a brand new passport in my hand. It took him 60 seconds flat!

60 seconds!

60 seconds

In the amount of time I mentioned above 3 passport could have been made.

And that's only one employee!

I counted at least 25 employees there. If each one made one passport every minute, that would be 25 passports a minute. 1500 passports an hour! During the course of the work day, they could have finished 4x1500= 6000 passports in ONE DAY! (I only counted 4 hours of utilization)

Why did I, the ordinary citizen, have to go through all of this to get my passport done? When it took the same employee 60 seconds of his dedicated time?

And yes, yes, I know, welcome to Jordan :)

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« How to get a PHD, and still be a moron!

Very lovingly! »

Memories....

#1
Jad
Said
On: 12/24/2007 11:46:55 PM

Thanks for the tip, I'm renewing mine next week.

#2
mkilany
Said
On: 12/25/2007 2:32:26 PM

How much is the coffee guy paying you for this post? :)

#3
Khaled
Said
On: 12/25/2007 5:35:40 PM

You can't do anything in Jordan (that's got to do with goverment/companies) without wasta.

#4
PSG
Said
On: 12/25/2007 10:37:17 PM

uh, ur bringing "precious" memories back to me... once, i had to renew a handful of birth certificates and create new ones as well for my family, it took me from 8 a.m. tell 2 p.m. !! and my number was 16 !! i came really early to finish early.. apparently, it doesn't work that way..
u r a lucky dude..

#5
masalha1
Said
On: 12/25/2007 10:48:59 PM

The new and improved ( e-government ) is comming to your nieghborhood soon, its real, its true, its heading your way, just be patient Qwaider!!!!

#6
wonders
Said
On: 12/26/2007 9:01:29 AM

you've abused the system?? who hasn't!! :)

#7
Disappointed wife
Said
On: 12/26/2007 3:53:41 PM

I have never stepped a foot in that department, never needed to :D
My husband goes there, gives the application to his cousin, he goes somewhere and later on he picks it up. If he was late, the passport will be delivered to us. So wasta works in Jordan big time!

#8
طفيلي( ahmad)
Said
On: 12/26/2007 3:56:51 PM

We need to look at the Brightside in this story:
1-Q didn’t pay money for the employee or he was asked to pay to finish his paper.
2-Coffee guy helped Q for nothing. This shows how Jordanians serve each other although we might not be related.
To judge a regime if it is corrupted or not, that should not be done through individual cases. In fact, UN issued a report to determine corruption regimes in the world. Jordan got a good mark (4) for fighting corruption.In contrary, Egypt was one of worst countries suffereing from corruption in the world and got 7. I know that there is a big gap how we follow the system in Jordan in comparison with people in West, but Jordan is considered one of best countries in this region of world. Because we live abroad and should not be harsh our beloved country. Things will change and take time.