Bureaucracy in Peru!

This article is from the pen of a New Zealander currently living in Lima, Peru.

I have never experienced anything like this!

This is not the first developing country I have ever lived in, The situation here is chaotic and that is being kind!

Lesson # 1. In Peru you must wait, don't expect anything in a hurry!

You will wait in line to enter the Hospital to visit your loved-ones, make sure you have the required documents that the hospital security demands or you will be refused entry. I have seen first hand a man in a wheelchair turn up for treatment only to be refused entry. The man's relative had to go to the security station and summon a hospital nurse to persuade the officer to allow entry for treatment!

Lesson # 2. In Peru you must accept the word No!

Lets go to the Italian Institute of Culture. It's 7:30am Monday Morning and you are in the line. You are number 12 by your calculation, that's good as there are only twenty tickets given out! A Security officer appears and tells everyone that no one is in attendance today, come back tomorrow. There is No ADMITTANCE TODAY, never mind that you have been waiting in line since 5:00am!

This goes on day after day. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the three mornings of attendance!

Lesson # 3. In Peru be prepared to pay bribes!

You are at immigration; you arrive at 10:am in the morning. You are in the line to revalidate your passport. The security officer approaches, checks your form is filled out correctly, that you have all the photocopies required and of course your passport and D.N.I (national identity card). Then he offers you his service,

"Want to skip the line and go straight to the bank to pay for your revalidation, only ten soles". This will save you thirty minutes to an hour of wait time. So you take the offer.

Now that you have paid your revalidation fee, you find yourself in the line to get your photo taken. Another security officer approaches, Then surprise, surprise he offers you his service,

"Want to skip the line and go straight to get your photo taken, only ten soles" This will save you another one to two hours of wait time! So you take the offer and get your photo taken. Then you proceed to hand everything in and wait the hour for processing!

All done in two hours and it could have taken four to five hours!

Lesson # 4. Take all information with a grain of salt!

I am sure that the Government departments change the rules every day just to add to the confusion! When a Government employee gives you miss-information you have no right for review. The Department is always right even when it is wrong! Don't expect any compassion, understanding or apology here!

Lesson # 5. You must pay with your money and your time!

Obtaining a single certificate, Police certificate, Judicial Certificate etc, will cost up to fifty soles for each certificate and then there are the legalisation stamps from the various departments. Each stamp will cost you up to fifty soles and some certificates will require three or four of these!

OK, you apply for your certificate, then go to the Bank of the Nation to pay for it.

You won't find a cashier at any Government Department!

Then you go back with your bank receipt. Your certificate will be ready for pick up in the next day or two!

Once you obtain your certificate it will take around a week to get it stamped. You have to visit each stamping department and this kills your time and is very frustrating!

Remember that Government Departments only receive on a part-time basis!

In Summary.

Peru has a lot of nice people; their democracy does not promote civil liberties, but rather controls how things are done. This is a poor nation; A large part of this has to do with the Government and its corruption. Ministers constantly say there is no money for this need or that need. The reason for this is simple; Government officials are busy lining their own pockets with public money! The Peruvian Government maintains the nations level of poverty very well. I believe that if the Government cleaned up its act, Peru could and would do a lot better. Peru has a lot to offer the world, If only the Government would play an active and appropriate part!

Why should the poor have to suffer? THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT!

DOES ANY WANT TO START A REVOLUTION?

About The Author

The Author is Alan Woods. He is a Professional Tarot Card Consultant, IT Conslutant and published poet. Alan Has over ten years experience in each of these fields and has travelled extensively in the course of his work. Alan works in these areas of expertise for Maria Angelica Ortiz Enterprises. Please check out the website: www.mariaortizenterprises.com

contact@mariaortizenterprises.com

---

African Masks

The following is a general over view of African Masks.There... Read More

The History of Body Piercings - Ancient and Fascinating Around the World

Body piercings have seen a resurgence of interest in the... Read More

Family, Incest, and Law

Family Values in Ancient Times:Many people of the present make... Read More

The Nos Feratu

The Caduceus has the pine cone representing the Pineal Gland... Read More

A Short Biography on Some of Europes Most Loved and Hated Monarchs - Pt 5 Charles II

Born in 1630, Charles II was the second eldest son... Read More

Astrology Refuted: They Should Have Seen It Coming

A comedian once showed a newspaper to his audience. The... Read More

The Trickster of Folklore

Folklore includes a traditional trickster figure, the subject of many... Read More

Heraldry in the Crafts--Why Not Specialize?

I have a small website where I try to sell... Read More

Michael Jacksons Latest Album Has Flopped

One month after being cleared of sex assault charges, Michael... Read More

Egyptian Hanmde Galabeya (Galabia)

The Bedouin culture has a long history of beautiful costumes,... Read More

Art, Artists, and the Web: Part 1--Why Every Artist Should Have Their Own Website

First rate art is in danger of being left behind... Read More

Return to Ouvea, New Caledonia

"Ouvea is everything you'd expect in a South Pacific island.... Read More

Violence

Flashes of memory stream into my consciousness. They take me... Read More

Mythology and Parables in Modern Communication - Part 1

Today there is a growing need to examine all our... Read More

Mythology and Parables in Modern Communication - Part 3

Our Self is the true center of our being and... Read More

Precious Stones - The Big Five: Part 2, The Ruby

What fairy tales of enchanted princesses and legendary lore of... Read More

Welcome to the Mind Revolution: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Living Between the Points

What does it mean to live "between the points?" What... Read More

Flows of Civilization; Views from a Think Tank

Over the past few years we have been discussing many... Read More

Bits of Heritage, Whose Heritage

Change is the only inevitably constant aspect of life in... Read More

When We Was Kids In Chicago

Radio was the big communicator, back when I was a... Read More

Those Dirty Mexicans--Oh, Really?

When my wife and I announced that we were moving... Read More

Astrology Signs and Planets Reveal Who You Are

But people are starting to take a new look at... Read More

The Five Feng Shui Elements and Their Characteristics

Feng shui handles five main elements in order to achieve... Read More

Nessie, the Beast of the Loch

They were fierce hill tribes in what is now Scotland,... Read More

Moissanite Earrings, The Modern Brazilian Beetle

The history of earrings is a varied history indeed. And... Read More

Peruvian Artist Shares Why Preservation of Culture and Rituals Sacred To His Art

My artistic endeavor have led me towards a personal sense... Read More

OM to Ogham

Plato observed that the advent of an alphabet making writing... Read More

Debussy and Gamelan According to a 150 Year Old Man

Hello!If you haven't been transported by the mesmerizing sounds of... Read More

To Quote or Not to Quote

"By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote."... Read More

The Dating Game

Lord Renfrew, Disney Professor of Archaeology at Cambridge University states:... Read More

Tarot Cards Demystified: The Suit of Cups

There are many ways to interpret the symbolism found in... Read More

Synchronized Swimming, Dolphin Cognition and Visualization

As humans become more technologically advanced and are able to... Read More

Progress Versus Perfection

From the creative explosion marking the outset of the universe... Read More