RECENTLY, I was at Pan Pacific hotel in Marina Square and used
the restroom next to the Atrium Deli.
Upon entering the washroom, I saw a huge trash bag at the basin
area, which was filled with rubbish including unfinished rolls of
toilet paper.
Upon closer inspection, I counted at least six rolls of
half-used toilet paper. The cleaner who was inspecting the cubicles
walked out and threw away more unfinished rolls.
When I asked her why the unfinished toilet rolls were being
thrown into the rubbish bag, she did not reply, even as other
restroom users began throwing soiled tissues into the same trash
bag before the cleaner took it away.
When I reported the matter to the hotel's housekeeping
department, I was taken aback by the abrasive and defensive reply
by the assistant housekeeper, who said the half-used toilet rolls
in the trash bag would be reused. When I pointed out that the rolls
were among the rubbish, she insisted that they would be reused and
tried to end our conversation hastily.
I have worked in a five-star hotel and the lack of environmental
conscientiousness by this hotel's housekeeping staff surprised
me.
My other concern is whether foreign workers, like the cleaner in
the hotel's washroom, are trained properly to maintain the
hard-earned reputation that Singapore - and the Singapore Tourism
Board - have worked hard to achieve.
Peh Ping Ping (Ms)
(ST Forum dated 8th Feb 2012)