THE EDITOR, Sir:ON FRIDAY September 16, I keenly listened for what cushion the Government would be providing for those who work for them. At the end of it, I was still somewhat confused as to exactly what they meant, so I waited until the Saturday Gleaner published it the following day. Now after absorbing correctly all the information as explained by The Gleaner, I now can definitely conclude that the Government is really lost. Minister Davies, Prime Minister Patterson et al, most of my colleagues and I fall in the $600 tax-free a week bracket. Not being political, but just realistic, if I were a friend of yours I knew you would do better.
A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
Mr. Fitz Jackson who stressed that this was a burden on the budget, obviously doesn't understand the current lifestyle of most Jamaicans. That rate increase is not an increase to us as he thinks, it's indirectly additional money for JPS. At that rate I think we can pay the initial quarter of our monthly light bills.
As public sector workers we were not seeking a windfall or anything of the sort, but for a hardship stipend; that's not even the H in hardship much less stipend. The only thing that would have helped would have been a sizeable increase in pay or better management of the economy.
FACING EXTINCTION
I must say, I was not expecting much, but at the same time I was not expecting so little. Mr. Brown said its better to have this and battle the increases than have no job, but truthfully Mr. Brown, after being aware of the current and previous waste of this administration, it's hard to agree with you. I just hope that internationally OPEC has got rich enough and locally the utility companies have pity on us, because with this current economic climate, the public sector will soon be like the dinosaurs extinct.
I am, etc.,
VERY DISAPPOINTED
