Proving My Identity, Again.

I went to the Licensing Authority to get a driver's permit. I wanted one for 12 months. I offered my US driver's licence. OK. I offered to pay by check. The lady hesitated. "Do you have a Barbados ID card?" I told her I had the card issued to me by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I started to explain further, she cut her eye. I stopped and started again. She cut her eye again and interrupted me. I told her "Do not interrupt me. I'm explaining something and if you misunderstand it will be a problem." She cut her eye again. Third strike. She went to talk to a supervisor and then came back. I filled in the check and added the number from the card, as she had told me to. I asked to speak to her supervisor. I retold the recent events. The young lady cut her eye again. I said to the lady "Did I misrepresent?" She said I had. I asked how. She said nothing. I asked again. Again nothing. I looked at the supervisor. The supervisor looked at her staff. The lady said that we had each interrupted the other. I immediately apologized for my interruption. She folded her arms. I mentioned the Minister's name. She sat up straight. I said that should not have been necessary. Perhaps, I should give the lady credit for knowing the name of her Minister. I am a customer. "You are here to provide a service and help me, not to give me cut eye." I left. Maybe she thought that Americans do not know cut eye. But, I'm not American.

I know that the dysfunction is rife. My wife, myself, all her foreign-appointed staff, a raft of other people here working for international organizations, have a special ID card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is supposed to act as our national ID card. It never does, without some problems. I usually use my US driver's licence or one of my passports (but carrying those around all the time is not to my liking).

Being a full scale diplomat is clear in most cases, especially if you have an ambassador level red UN passport. Being a regular private citizen is also usually clear. But being a sort of quasi-diplomat is really weird. I used to have a car with "head of mission" plates: road blocks? Sorry, stop? I don't think so. I had a regular licence plate: road block? Yes, officer. In Barbados, some institutions have special diplomatic plates, but I have never seen "head of mission" plates; there is a one-brand CD plate. I carry three passports: 2 national (Jamaican [only honorary consular facility], British [full-fledged High Commission support]; one for the UN (laissez passer; UN umbrella coverage). The UN document is supposed to be used to get past most awkward border controls and especially if it means having a stamp in the a national passport that may cause future problems, like from Libya or Israel. When you do international travel for a living these things matter. International organizations try to anticipate and protect.

I've gone through the ID hoop so many times now I could play both sides. Clearly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees no need to inform other agencies of the arrangements they have made. They are domestic. Fortunately, I have met some really nice and helpful Bajans who know a dumb thing when they see it. So, I have not had problems getting my phones and all other things where foreigners are supposed to pay a deposit before proceeding. I guess nationals don't disappear. Cha! You should see how the planes are full of Bajans heading to New York City.

So, I have to make a plea to our overseeing representative from the UN. Please get things strengthened out. Patience is a virtue and I have lots of it. But, everyone has a breaking point.