|
| Letter of the Day
November 3, 1999
Let's tackle corruption, inefficiency THE EDITOR, Madam: CONGRATULATIONS TO the organisers of the Jamaica Bawl-Out on a well-organised and meaningful programme. We indeed need to keep 'bawling out' to God for mercy on our nation. However, as we bawl-out let us 'produce fruit in keeping with repentance'. It was John the Baptist who approximately 2,000 years ago gave examples of fruit of repentance which examples are as follows: * The haves should voluntarily share with the have-nots. There are persons in our inner-cities who are desperately calling out for help with one project or another. We ought to have compassion on the needy and ensure that we find means and ways of helping them to help themselves. Actually the stark reality is that if we do not do so the have-nots will soon compel our assistance by violent means; * The tax collectors were told not to collect anymore than they were required to. Thus persons who collect money on behalf of Government must ensure that they collect no more than that to which they are entitled. By extension, it seems to me that the same goes for people who make tax laws, such laws must be reasonable. I am reminded of the increase in fees at the Office of the Registrar of Companies in May 1999. These increases were horrendous and unjust. For example, the cost per page of a certified document moved from $5 to $100, the cost of incorporating a company limited by guarantee moved from $300 to $7,000. These increases bore no relationship to the services rendered. John the Baptist said do not collect any more than you are required and by extension do not require any more than that which is reasonable. * To the soldiers John the Baptist said do not extort and do not accuse people falsely. I think we could justifiably include police and other agents of the law in this category. Examples of other acts from which we need to refrain are as follows: * Stop the corruption of public officers whether it be Customs officers or officers at the Titles Office. * Stop tolerating inefficient systems institutions'. Inefficiency leads to corruption. Let's clamour for the reform of such systems. For example, why did it take myself and others approximately three months to obtain from the KSAC a certified copy of an approved sub-division plan? * Start insisting on accountability from our Government and others in leadership positions. I still cannot recall that any senior official resigned as a result of the murderous incident involving Agana Barrett! Let's watch the newly-appointed Harrison Commis-sion to see if anyone will be held responsible for the recent jailbreak at the General Penitentiary. Let us see what will happen to the recommendations made by this present Commission. * Start insisting that our leaders set the right examples for the rest of us. It is unconscionable for public sector leaders to be receiving such excessive salaries as we have been reading about recently when the country is in the middle of a financial crisis with persons losing their jobs weekly. Could it be that it is only middle managers and persons at the lower end of the ladder who are expected to bear the financial crunch? This list is by no means exhaustive but we must realise that something must be wrong with the way we live and teach our Christianity for Jamaica to be in such a sorry state. I am, etc., SHIRLEY P. RICHARDS |
| Public officials
receive more than US counterparts
THE EDITOR, Madam: I LIVE in Miami Dade, Florida and was surprised to see the salary level of your public sector executives. These salaries are close to that of the President of the USA and are way over that of the head of most public sector jobs here in Miami. Some of these sectors here in Miami are huge money earners to the local coffers. The Port of Miami is the largest cruise ship port in the world and the Miami International Airport is one of the largest airports in the USA. I am etc., LADDIE KONG
Poverty and payrolls THE EDITOR, Madam: THERE WERE two items of news recently, both coming from Government sources, which have confirm that this Government regards the people of this country as a set of idiots. We are being told that poverty in this country is on the decline. What a load of nonsense. Over the last five years we have had more people put out of work and businesses closing than any other period in recent memory. There are more beggars on the streets, more homeless people, more hopelessness. You just have to drive around Kingston to see the decay that has set in. And you are going to tell me that "Poverty is on the decline". The other item of news surrounds the controversy regarding public sector salaries. I personally do not have a problem with people being paid what they think they are worth. I have a problem when their tenure is "business as usual". Unless they can make "measurable" and sustainable improvements in the enterprise that they manage rather than maintain the status quo, then they must go. Anyway I am straying from what I wanted to say, and that is when the Government is going to tell us that the head of the UDC receives $500,000 as his salary. What do they take us for? This person is in charge of a multi-billion dollar enterprise, where his subordinates earn million dollar packages, and you are going to tell me that he only earns $500,000 per annum. What a piece of disrespect. I am etc., PETER CALLEN Put up or shut up Mr Chuck THE EDITOR, Madam: I WAS shocked to read Delroy Chuck's October 20 op-ed piece, "The Burdensome Public Sector". While I do not dispute his diagnosis of the critical condition of the Jamaican economy, I cannot concur with his recommended course of treatment. Mr. Chuck notes that JLP administrations kept public sector employment in the 1970s to a low of 75,000, but hastens to add that he is "not promoting the view that we simply lay people off". That is precisely what he is doing and worst off all, he doesn't have the courage or integrity to come out into the open and admit it. After stating that the "country has some hard choices to make and we need to make them" now, it soon becomes clear that Mr. Chuck is not prepared to back his words with deeds. He then anticipates that "naturally, the response will be where do we start to cut?" Mr. Chuck answers: "Fortunately, that is not my problem, it is the task of the Government...." He then goes on to say "the Government must ... reduce the public service by at least 25 per cent over the next two to five years". It is mind-boggling that anyone can so cavalierly advocate throwing nearly 25,000 people out of work. He does not make the slightest effort to suggest other options. I reject the notion that there are no options; they do exist. Mr. Chuck is a sitting Member of Parliament and the JLP spokesman on justice. The irony is that Mr. Chuck himself is a perfect example of the unproductive and burdensome public sector official that he advocates laying off. If Mr. Chuck is really interested in reducing waste and saving money, he should begin by introducing a Bill in Parliament to eliminate the perks of MPs, especially their medical insurance for treatment in American hospitals. There comes a point where one has to either put up or shut up. Rather than being so eager to slash public employment, why doesn't Mr. Chuck and his party put forward ideas to earn more revenue? I am etc., ANDREW MCINTOSH Value for money is important THE EDITOR, Madam: IN THE outrage about the salaries being paid to heads of quasi-Government entity, the question should be asked whether these managers are all qualified for the positions they hold? Everyone knows that some of these individuals do not have the required skills to improve the entity that they are in charge of. That has contributed to problem that Jamaica is faced with today, because the people who have the talent do not get the positions because they are not political cronies. But because teachers, police and other essential services fall under the guise of public servants, but have very little political influence, they are unable to get what they deserve. In an ideal world, one would think that they would be the ones who would be rewarded financially for the job they do. Without teachers, who teach the children the fundamentals and also influence the minds of the young, there would be anarchy. To the country's leaders, please let us change our priorities and start putting our limited resources in the right place, and we will see positive results for sure. I am etc., KARL BROWN
|
|
 |