June 7, 2007 — With mail service to and from the Virgin Islands moving at its usual slow pace, Delegate Donna M. Christensen wrote to U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter asking that he fix the problem.
"Everything has to go to Puerto Rico for processing," including both inbound and outbound mail, Christensen said.
While she often pulls federal officials aside to tell them about the territory's postal woes, Christensen said, this is the first time she has written a formal letter to the Postal Service. In addition to delays, the mail is often misdirected.
"Sometimes it ends up in St. Kitts," she said.
David Stevens, acting head of the St. Thomas post office, refused to answer detailed questions unless a reporter made a personal visit to the post office.
"I don't want to take any chances," Stevens said, indicating he couldn't be sure of the reporter's identity without a personal visit. He did say he wasn't aware that there was any holdup with the mail.
Stevens later called back to refer questions to Postal Service spokeswoman Mildred Diaz in Puerto Rico. She said the Postal Service investigates all complaints.
While Christensen would prefer that the mail be processed in the Virgin Islands, she understands that it undergoes security screening in Puerto Rico. If it isn't possible for the mail to be processed in the territory because of the security-screening requirement, she said she wants to see improvements.
"Just get me my mail on time," she said.
Postal Service customers send her complaints every day, Christensen said. Additionally, she said, residents often get charged late fees on their bills because they don't arrive before the due date or are late getting to the company.
Paying extra for Priority or Express Mail doesn't seem to help, she said, and the business community continues to incur financial losses because of poor postal service. The Postal Service has failed in its attempt to streamline and improve its services, making residents unwilling victims, Christensen said.
"The Postal Service has been totally unable to deliver on or achieve any of those standards that they set out to accomplish," she said.
Mail goes to Puerto Rico for sorting even if it's going to an address on the same island. Processing the mail through one big machine may make good business sense, but it doesn't work to the benefit of the territory's postal customers, Christensen said.
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