Baksh hits Govt over outsourcing

He made his point last Tuesday in the Senate during debate on the Pharmacy Board (Amendment) Bill 2006.

“The policy of the Government is to import doctors, nurses and now pharmacists. Is it the policy of Government to outsource government?”

Noting the recruitment of British police officers, he said: “We are seeing a trend of outsourcing a lot of things that can be done here.” Baksh said the Government had said it will import Chinese labourers to build the new aluminium smelter but now it seems to be unsure of what is happening. “I heard yesterday to my amazement that the skills required on an aluminium smelter are not available in Trinidad and Tobago.” In contrast, he said, in 1972 the then government had sent 12 trainees to India to work on an aluminium smelter. “If the PNM could do that in 1972, what has happened to 2006? This is a ‘vikey-vikey’ administration with no plans for Trinidad and Tobago.”

While the Government is importing foreign workers, Baksh was also worried about the brain drain of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago to other countries prompted by the local crime situation and by better job opportunities abroad.

Stating that consultation is the hallmark of a good administration, he said this regime does not consult. “There was no consultation with the pharmacists,” he said.

Baksh concluded: “I advise the administration to withdraw this Bill, come back again, and consult the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.”