Dear Editor,
Ever since the hefty salary increases for the ministers of the present government who have spent less than five months in office there has been an outcry of foul amongst the grassroots citizens of this country.
Thus, here I am putting in my “two cents” on behalf of those who vented their disapproval at this unfair move by those who were put in office to serve (not in self-interest), but the people of this country and after all, it is the taxpayers who are the bosses of the government and not vice versa.
May I remind the ministers that instead of asking “what my country can do for me/us?” they should always be asking “what can I/we do for our country and our citizens?” Secondly the ministerial salary structure and benefits would have been open to their perusal before they accepted any appointment to serve as ministers.
It is understandable that prior to May 2015, most of these ministers practised as high-profile attorneys or owned private businesses (which they still do)and raked in huge amounts of cash, but they had to pay out of their pockets for all the fringe benefits they now enjoy. Judging by the response generated by this latest act of betrayal with this unjust multi-million dollar move (in the opinion of the grassroots citizens), if the ministerial salary and various benefits that go with this post did not appeal to the minister he/she should have simply refused the position and let someone who needs it more accept it as is!
How can this government be so insensitive and uncaring to the cries of its citizens in adamantly refusing to repeal this erroneous decision which is only in their self-interest? Yet they expect the citizens to be satisfied with incomes as low as $50,000 per month, without taking into consideration that these low income citizens have to pay all utilities and sustain their families and themselves from such a meagre sum with no fringe benefits as being enjoyed by them. Another observation is how many of these ministers have children below 18 years of age who are dependents?
I implore not only the APNU+AFC coalition but all the policy makers to take an example from Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica’s life.
Please Google that great president to learn about his selfless approach to his people and country. Certainly, if anyone has a claim of leading by example, it is without any doubt this humble and generous soul; who not only refuses all the luxuries that go with his status and opts for a simple life but donates the bulk of his salary to social projects.
In closing, maybe the government will reconsider not only to repeal their decision of salary increases but will instead accept a cut all around the table. May I remind our leaders that one’s greatness is not measured by the size of their salary, bank account or other frivolities, but instead by one’s humility and integrity.
Should this notion be applied I am certain praises will be sung for this government who now has become quite the opposite with their arrogance and deceit. For it is apparent that those who supported or voted for the coalition feel they have been hoodwinked and the APNU+AFC are fast losing popularity and thus played directly into the hands of the opposition PPP/C.
Yours faithfully,
Juliet Dukhi
Social activist
