JoeyB Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Nottingham postmaster has said he will refuse to serve people in his post office if they cannot speak English.Deva Kumarasiri, who moved to England from Sri Lanka 18 years ago, runs the Sneinton Boulevard Post Office. Mr Kumarasiri said he could not serve people if he did not understand what they were asking for. In a statement, Post Office Counters Ltd said its "branches were open to all customers" and "steps would be taken" to ensure this at the Sneinton store. Mr Kumarasiri said he could not serve people if he did not understand them Mr Kumarasiri said he had turned away about six customers after he said they wasted his time and infuriated other customers because they could not understand English. "If somebody stands up and says 'sorry, I can't serve you if you can't speak English', then they'll think twice," he said. "I am part of a service but how can I serve them if I don't understand what they are asking for?" The 40-year-old felt he was only asking people to make the same efforts he had done himself. "I was born and raised in a different country, my language was different, my religion was different. "But when I came to England I obeyed the British way of life, I got into the British way of life. "That is what I ask everyone else to do - respect the country where you are working and living." Mr Kumarasiri said his idea was popular in the local community. This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with basic communication. Mike Clarke, Bideford, Devon Read your comments on this story 'Stereotypical view' Ina Norgate, 49, from Sneinton, said: "I agree with him. It's a bit ignorant to come here and not speak the language. If you went to France you would have to learn French." But Mohammed Ahmed, 22, also from the area, disagreed. "This is a multicultural society and this is not right really," he said. "If they come here to work, it's their right to stay here even if they speak their own language. Some people can't speak English but they can learn the language once they come here." But Afzal Sadif from the Nottingham Racial Equality Council said Mr Kumarasiri's stance was "unacceptable". "This is a public service, the Post Office is there for everybody and we seriously have to look at the stereotypical view he's coming across with. "In the long run, I believe, if we're living in Britain, over the course of the years, you have to speak English to get by but you can't force it upon people." Magic .
AyewJoking Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 He should learn all the different languages. Its only fair.
Sir Fynwy Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 If my customers applied a similar tactic I'd have to learn French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, Finnish, Swedish, Dutch and a load of other languages.
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Fair play to him. If you want to LIVE in this country you should learn the bloody language, even if you don't use it in your family / friends situation. I think it's disgraceful that has been criticised for this, so bloody PC.
Lillehamring Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 on my language course, we dealt with going to the post office in lesson 5 or 6... he's not asking for much, not asking them to write an english language novel - just to ask for a bloody stamp... fair enough, although if he'd not been sri lankan he'd probably be in jail or at least sacked
lavrentis Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Fair play to him. If you want to LIVE in this country you should learn the bloody language, even if you don't use it in your family / friends situation. I think it's disgraceful that has been criticised for this, so bloody PC. Said it for me!!
Alexikokopops Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 What about someone who's come on holiday and might not speak English very well? I know when I was in Spain for instance and this approach was adopted I would have been screwed. I wouldn't have eaten for days if people in shops wouldn't decifer my arm waving.
Dr The Singh Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 I agree people should learn the lingo when they go to LIVE in a foriegn country etc, but to refuse to serve them is abit excessive, and plain ignorant. If he were a white native they would call it racism!!!
Jon the Hat Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 I agree people should learn the lingo when they go to LIVE in a foriegn country etc, but to refuse to serve them is abit excessive, and plain ignorant. If he were a white native they would call it racism!!! They are calling it racism.
Dr The Singh Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 They are calling it racism. Where's the boundry between being ignorant or prejuduce or racist??? Cu, I don't think the guys racist, maybe prejuduced against those that don't want to 'fit in' to english society and he's definitely ignorant!!!
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 It is not racism is it, really! It's ignorance and stubborness, but not racist. To buy some stamps you need to be able to count to 10 and say the words, STAMPS, PLEASE, and THANK YOU. Not really challenging is it? The real ignorance is the people who think that we somehow owe these people the leeway of not speaking our language. Immigrants have plenty of access to language and cultural training, I don't see what the problem is.
Smudge Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 What about someone who's come on holiday and might not speak English very well? I know when I was in Spain for instance and this approach was adopted I would have been screwed. I wouldn't have eaten for days if people in shops wouldn't decifer my arm waving. Absolutely, Sneinton Boulevard is becoming quite fashionable I hear.
Alexikokopops Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Absolutely, Sneinton Boulevard is becoming quite fashionable I hear. I was talking about the concept as a whole
Raj Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Bet half the fcukers in Nottm cant speak proper English like what i do anyway...me duck innit...
Thracian Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Magic . If an Englishman had said that there would have been uproar but when a foreigner says what an Englishman might think it gets much more credibility. The bloke is way behind the times. My youngest has said for years that everyone should learn English. Everyone in the world that is.
Nationwider Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Dunno what he's complaining about - he should just overcharge them for everything.
purpleronnie Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 What about people who have recently arrived and are trying to learn..The blokes an idiot, he runs a social service open to all, moron.
lavrentis Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Bet half the fcukers in Nottm cant speak proper English like what i do anyway...me duck innit...
Daggers Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Man says he "could not serve people if (he) did not understand what they were asking for." Where's the frigging story?
Durnerz Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 I'm all agreed with the guy to be honest, people should make the effort to speak english and respect our culture from my personal perspective, I learned Spanish when I went over to Valencia and French when I worked over in Paris, its all about respect for the country, if people are coming here they should do some research beforehand.
Koke Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Haha, It's funny the amount of times I've translated for Arabic speaking people at post offices, local councils etc.
Corky Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 He's right, if he can't understand what they are saying how can he serve them? I made an effort to learn Spanish when I went there two years ago (forgotten it all now though), so they should make an effort to learn English, especially if they live here. It's not like he's asking them to speak English all the time is it? Only while they are shopping and being served by him, so he knows exactly what they want.
stez Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Haha, It's funny the amount of times I've translated for Arabic speaking people at post offices, local councils etc. you should charge a translation fee!
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