Dear Editor,
This Government has spent an enormous sum of monies to fill the pockets of the small man and provide a catalyst for economic progress. This is most commendable. Despite this, there has been countless dissatisfaction and vociferous condemnations from the very people who were supposed to be the beneficiaries and the general public.
With good intentions, the Government rolled out its flood relief valued billions of dollars, but many persons complained that those who deserved the monies, and are farmers, did not get the relief whilst many who planted nothing received. It was alleged that friends and cronies of lower tier officials of the PPP benefitted more than others. Earlier, the very scenario played out with the Covid-19 Relief Cash Grant. The distribution of hampers suffered the same fate, as well as the cash grant to the fisher folks. More cash relief, more dissatisfaction, what an irony.
Currently, the Government is rolling out its Part-Time Job Program which should bring relief to 10,000 unemployed persons. The form clearly states that unemployed persons between the ages of 18 to 55 are the intended beneficiaries. But many persons currently employed in the Program do not qualify based on the criteria for employment. There are others who are who are already employed and are now part time workers. Then there are some who are employed but their wives are on the Program. Then there are some who are pensioners who are over the age of sixty. Many unemployed persons are thrown aside in favour of friends and cronies.
But to make matters worse, many of the part time workers barely work one or two hours per day for the ten-day period. The working period is 10 days at 8 hours per day, or a total of 80 hours per month. Many are poorly supervised and some do not even turn up for work but are marked present, meaning they will be paid. This is the biggest fraud to date and will cost government hundreds of million per month.
It is clear these programs are not properly thought out and are implemented by someone minus transparency and accountability. Qualified people should have been employed, independent of politics, to implement and oversee these programs. Only then these initiatives will be free from controversies and condemnations. The Ministry of Finance should have been involved and not only for making payments. As it is, there are many disgruntled persons who may take their votes elsewhere in 2025.
Sincerely,
Narindra Lall
