Higher rates, less service

THE EDITOR: The readjustment of the WASA CEO’s salary to $36,000 per month can lead to an increase in the water rate! That is the interpretation of a somewhat veiled threat to consumers. While that may be necessary we are still in a situation where rates are paid without service by domestic consumers.

Thanks to the National Self-Help programme, domestic consumers (now) have water connections. Before that, a $500 fee was paid with little or no connecting service. The need to attract the best minds to turn around fledgling companies and economies, must be met with an appropriate renumeration package and that is the norm among the corporate culture. The WASA CEO is not unique in this millieu. He states quite interestingly that he had to learn Deutsch in order to excel in engineering.

While some have no quarrel with that, the manner in which the salary was hiked (and the time of that move) is the problem. This is where the trend of hostage-taking falls in. For the few, it is affordable to find means to fight crime when it suits them. Even though they are available the poorer class suffer and that is the same scenario. Because of crime the haves need to protect themselves from those who, note well, are unnecessary have-nots or who choose to be poor through unwillingness to engage in honest work. People involved in the politico-corporate world seem oblivious to the strappings that have an invidious effect on juveniles!

JEFFREY M JOSEPH
Fyzabad