Higher wages needed for Cost of Living

THE EDITOR: The current labour unrest taking place in the country and the Government response to it is very interesting indeed. On the one hand workers in both the Public and Private Sector are clamouring for higher wages, and in the case of the Atlantic LNG workers, comparable wages with those of the expatriates who perform similar tasks. Government on the other hand is saying that higher wages will result in the creation of an inflationary state.

This myopic view being held by the Government is terribly flawed. There are many other factors which when put together cause inflation, not the implementation of higher wages alone. One has only to look at our recent history to find the proof. Despite the implementation of the minimum wage, inflation was kept at all time low and the number of persons gaining employment increased. The rising cost of food and other basic amenities are as a direct result of the increased cost of fuel. The cry by the workers for higher wages is simply to enable them to catch up with the state of inflation created by the Government. Minister Valley’s interpretation on the proliferation of strikes and protest in the country is that the people are happy. To quote the words of a famous calypso it seems like “Happiness Killin We.”

ROOPLAL SAMAROO