Dear Editor,
I am a bit baffled by the current Government's unwillingness to follow the example of US President Obama and show their empathy with the people of Jamaica by cutting their salaries.
What makes this stubborn decision puzzling is that the current administration campaigned on a mantra of people power and continues to proclaim that they love the people of Jamaica.
I would like to know how they are demonstrating the love for Jamaicans when they refuse to make any sacrifice themselves to show the people that they understand their pain and suffering during this time of significant economic downturn.
Many governments across the globe have demonstrated their solidarity with their people and have proven that they understand their pain by cutting costs and their leaders' salaries. This past January, Singapore lawmakers voted for a 28 per cent cut for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and a 31 per cent cut for ministers. Obama and several of his Cabinet ministers also cut their salaries.
In Jamaica, the previous Government took a pay cut in 2009. At that time, the then Opposition, led by Mrs Simpson Miller, vehemently rejected the call for them to also take a cut.
Now, a member of the Opposition has decided to take a 10 per cent cut and the same voices that rejected the cut in 2009 are the same voices that are rejecting it now.
My position is that if a member of the Opposition can show such leadership by taking a salary cut — even though his salary is less than any Government minister — what is the reason the Government has for refusing to show solidarity with the people of Jamaica by taking a cut?
While taking a 10 per cent cut would not dent the budget, the money could be used in a manner that would have societal impact.
If each of the 43 government members of the Jamaican Parliament gave up $10,000 per month, in a salary cut, that would be nearly $5.2 million per year. This money could be used to fix the fence at the Windsor Girls' Home to house the girls currently locked up in adult facilities. Some of this money could also be used to house and feed some of the street people who sleep in front of Jamaica's Supreme Court in Kingston.
If the money is not enough for that task then Government could fix some of the refrigerated trucks that are used to transport milk for children in the School Feeding Programme.
I believe Mrs Simpson Miller has a grand opportunity to do something to inspire Jamaica and restore faith in her Government. She needs to show the people of Jamaica that she really cares about them and is prepared to share in their sacrifice.
If she doesn't, then she will only be showing the Jamaican people that she and her Government do not care and are only interested in power and not people power.
Michelle Bent
Toronto, Canada
mushie2@live.com
Lead by example, PM
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I am a bit baffled by the current Government's unwillingness to follow the example of US President Obama and show their empathy with the people of Jamaica by cutting their salaries.
What makes this stubborn decision puzzling is that the current administration campaigned on a mantra of people power and continues to proclaim that they love the people of Jamaica.
I would like to know how they are demonstrating the love for Jamaicans when they refuse to make any sacrifice themselves to show the people that they understand their pain and suffering during this time of significant economic downturn.
Many governments across the globe have demonstrated their solidarity with their people and have proven that they understand their pain by cutting costs and their leaders' salaries. This past January, Singapore lawmakers voted for a 28 per cent cut for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and a 31 per cent cut for ministers. Obama and several of his Cabinet ministers also cut their salaries.
In Jamaica, the previous Government took a pay cut in 2009. At that time, the then Opposition, led by Mrs Simpson Miller, vehemently rejected the call for them to also take a cut.
Now, a member of the Opposition has decided to take a 10 per cent cut and the same voices that rejected the cut in 2009 are the same voices that are rejecting it now.
My position is that if a member of the Opposition can show such leadership by taking a salary cut — even though his salary is less than any Government minister — what is the reason the Government has for refusing to show solidarity with the people of Jamaica by taking a cut?
While taking a 10 per cent cut would not dent the budget, the money could be used in a manner that would have societal impact.
If each of the 43 government members of the Jamaican Parliament gave up $10,000 per month, in a salary cut, that would be nearly $5.2 million per year. This money could be used to fix the fence at the Windsor Girls' Home to house the girls currently locked up in adult facilities. Some of this money could also be used to house and feed some of the street people who sleep in front of Jamaica's Supreme Court in Kingston.
If the money is not enough for that task then Government could fix some of the refrigerated trucks that are used to transport milk for children in the School Feeding Programme.
I believe Mrs Simpson Miller has a grand opportunity to do something to inspire Jamaica and restore faith in her Government. She needs to show the people of Jamaica that she really cares about them and is prepared to share in their sacrifice.
If she doesn't, then she will only be showing the Jamaican people that she and her Government do not care and are only interested in power and not people power.
Michelle Bent
Toronto, Canada
mushie2@live.com
Lead by example, PM
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