Prison officers want more money, police officers want more money, public servants want more money. The Government says it has no money, but the situation is getting very volatile. I have a very simple solution. Let the Government remove the subsidy on gas. It is projected that will rake in more than a billion dollars in revenue and would be able to give everybody what they want.
The only thing is that the removal of the gas subsidy will inevitably result in an increased price of gas at the pumps, so everything else will go up-transportation, food, cable, electricity, lawyer fees, used cars, new cars, doctor services, rentals etc. But at least the police officers, the prison officers and also the PSA would be happy. And they won't be falling sick all over the place again. Finally, when the police officers get their increase, don't forget to remove the $1,000 allowance they got previously, so that they would be properly taxed. Because while the allowance won't be taxed, the rise in salary would be taxed.
Elaine Peters
Marabella
