Gail Alexander
If the economy is so good and GDP nominal growth is so high, Government and Finance Minister Colm Imbert must pay public servants properly, UNC Senator Wade Mark has declared.
Mark made the demand in Friday’s Senate debate on the Supplementation of Appropriation Bill.
He said despite Imbert’s exuberance on the economy, trade unions and workers were only being offered two per cent over an eight- year bargaining period currently.
Mark dismissed Imbert’s presentation on the economy as: “An exercise in deflection, derision, deception and economic aerobics.”
He said while a rosy picture was painted of a rebounding economy, inflation, growing unemployment and capital flight were increasing.
He said the boost in revenue had nothing to do with Government’s “bankrupt policies” but war in Ukraine had contributed to the high energy prices.
“If anybody we should thank, is Vladimir Putin in Russia,” Mark added.
Mark said if peace arises between Russia and Ukraine and oil prices drop again, “We back to Square One! So let’s be real and look at things properly–we’re living in a fool’s paradise. This is a house of cards that can crash any time.”
He added: “Despite the crowing by the minister, and with all this $180 billion GDP nominal growth boasted by the minister, the average citizen still can’t get (US)$200 in a bank.”
He noted monies allocated for TTEC and TSTT whose payments Government is now catching up on.
But Mark queried how the ordinary person would benefit from the $3 billion in the Appropriation Bill and increased petrochemical prices.
“People are suffering higher fuel and food prices, I thought the minister would have used the extra money to reduce the price at the (gas) pump and ease the crushing increases on food price,” Mark said.
Calling for Government to ease the pressure on the poor, he suggested reverting freight rates to the pre-COVID levels to ease high cost of living.
