A public letter addressed to the editor has highlighted a growing unprofessional communication norm troubling interactions across Antigua and Barbuda’s business community, calling for an immediate end to the widespread practice of ignoring incoming outreach from members of the public.
The letter’s author, who shared the observation publicly via the editor’s platform, expressed particular frustration with the pattern that unfolds when this silence is called out: rather than acknowledging the lapse in communication, unresponsive professionals often double down with weak excuses rather than taking accountability.
This behavior stands in sharp contrast to the eagerness many of these same professionals show when they are the ones seeking support, favors, or attention from the public, the author noted. It is unreasonable, the letter argues, for members of the public to have to hound even basic acknowledgment of their outreach from professionals who have no problem approaching the public when their own needs are on the line.
The appeal makes clear that responding to an outreach does not carry any unintended obligations: it does not require a professional to agree to a request, commit to a project, or grant whatever ask the sender has put forward. A simple, polite response, at its core, is nothing more than a basic act of respect for a person who carved out time out of their day to reach out.
Finally, the author emphasizes that true professionalism cannot be limited to polished social media posts and curated online branding. It must be woven into every interaction, especially how professionals treat people who turn to them for assistance. The business community of Antigua and Barbuda is called on to embrace this fundamental standard of respect and overhaul the current culture of non-response.