One thing that takes getting used to here in Jamaica is the pace. Everything, except the driving, is slower. The Jamaica Gleaner is currently running a series on this topic. Their reporters have spent time in banks, businesses and hospitals to track how long people have to wait in line. Waits of two or three hours are not uncommon. It is such a problem that some bosses dock their workers’ pay when they do not return on time to finish their work. Hardly seems fair.
There is a saying here, “Soon come,” that expresses this attitude. Basically, things will happen when they happen, not necessarily on a schedule or on time. This “island time” attitude works well for the tourist trade, but clearly, not so much for Jamaicans trying to live and work here. It is such a problem that in quantifiable terms, Jamaica ranks near the bottom in a study on countries’ productivity by the World Bank. Here are some of the findings:
Jamaica’s ranking on the World Bank’s Doing Business 2012 scale:
Ease of doing business – 90
Registering property – 105
Paying taxes – 163
I can attest to the slower pace, but my experience with waiting has not been that bad. Even working as a reporter right now I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly people are getting back to me, providing information and answering the phones. Wonder if my privileged status has anything to do with it? In any case, take a read of the Gleaner’s story
Jamaican Journal 
The link to the Gleaner doesn’t work.