Public servants now government dogs

THE EDITOR: Like many dog owners, the government and their friends (police, teachers, State enterprise employees) are eating the bread and throwing the crumbs for public servants. Public officers have, over the last three years become the poorest workers in the country, courtesy the Manning Administration. His motto is “the worst performers must get the highest pay.” Police get 40-50 percent pay increases yet they don’t have a clue of how to manage crime, teachers get 65 percent (2000-2005) yet the children getting duncier and the education system is a disgrace. Imagine that junior police officers with three O’levels getting $6000 to $8000 per month whilst many public officers with degrees and diplomas getting half of that in 2004.

Imagine a teacher with a degree will now get $9000 per month, a primary school principal $12000 per month whilst very senior public officers with degrees and higher qualifications only receive $5500 per month. The salaries received by employees of state enterprises are beyond comparison with highly trained public officers. Under these conditions, a parent will want to kill his child if he/she wants to become a public officer. This is a clarion call to all public officers to mandate the PSA to demand that the current job evaluation exercise be completed in 2004 and implemented in 2005 before the PSA starts new negotiations for 2005. Over to you Madam President.

JOHNSTON ROBERTS
Scrunting Public Officer
Port-of-Spain