Dear Editor,
The formation of male and female affairs bureaux is a step in the right direction because they should address some of the issues affecting both genders whether old or young. However, we need to put our priorities in order.
It is an axiom that the basic human needs are food, clothing and housing, and to satisfy these needs money is of paramount importance. Although this fact is elementary we tend to lose sight of its reality. When people appear before these bureaux in most instances the lack of adequate money will surface as the underlying reason for the majority of problems. Holistic methods must be employed to deal with these matters.
Let us admit that most persons receiving salaries, wages and pensions find difficulty in meeting routine expenses for food, clothing, rent, light bills, water rates and transportation. This situation is worse if payments must be made towards mortgages and hire purchase.
Finally we need to reform our dollar to give it spending power. In terms of our exchange rate to the US dollar, we need to narrow the difference. We need to build homes for rental, especially for the elderly. Those retirees who came off many years ago receive a greatly diminished pension owing to inflation and the concomitant depreciation of our currency.
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Clarke
