Why?

 

I am attempting to keep this letter as brief as possible - a difficult task I assure you, as there is much to comment (read complain) on.  Patrick Manning assumed the reins of power (or was handed them on a silver platter, so to speak, by the then President of T&T, Mr. A.N.R. Robinson) on the grounds of "morality, spirituality and the rule of law".  What was the first thing that Mr. Manning did?  Increase his Cabinet some threefold - and their salaries!  Now one would expect superior performance in light of this action.  The result? 

 

Udecott - responsible to no one it seems - handling all major Government building projects and now the subject of an official Enquiry, with astounding details emanating therefrom, not the least of which is that someone forgot to gazette the matter.  Annual Budgets which, to this simple citizen, are merely repeats of the previous year's allocations in many instances for the same job allocations with no results - "where de money gone?".  Now Mr. Jeremie has admitted, under questioning from the Opposition, whom many, if not most people, claim do nothing for their money, that  a relatively recent practice has developed by virtue of which several ministries outsource their preliminary drafting work.  From this it is obvious that this practice developed under the present Manning administration.  Could someone tell me why Mr. Manning needed so many more Ministers in his Cabinet if so much work is being outsourced?  What are they all doing for their generous increased pay? 

 

The Prime Minister needs to be made aware that the taxpayers are not a benevolent society, we expect returns from our Prime Minister (and his Cabinet).  Aside from Mr. Manning's palace and numerous tall empty buildings, what has the nation gotten from this increased workforce, aside from increased property, cigarette and alcohol taxes now that the boom is over - the latter two for our health apparently - a phenomenal increase in murder statistics under "zero tolerance" and increased traffic fines to ensure our safety on the roads apparently, yet estimated to yield a pretty penny towards funding of a deficit Budget.  I forgot - we also got a yet unregistered elite police unit, SUATT, and an ag. CoP who less than two weeks ago advised us that violent crime was indeed being curbed to which the nation breathed a collective sigh of relief.  As at the 28th Sept. the toll stood at 402, however - one more than obtained on that date last year, with 20 occurring over the last 8 days, as if to mock him!  We are also getting luxury helicopters at an awesome price (billions) to do rescue work we are told, yet when the bridge collapsed on the road to Toco recently the available helicopter, or helicopters, was/were not brought into service for emergency transport of ill persons, far less delivery of aid.  Instead we were treated to a primal shot of stretcher borne patients, one about to deliver, being carried across a half finished bailey bridge the old fashioned way - by hand!  Those new helicopters will come in useful for our PM's travels though - to visit our newly purchased assets in the United States and Canada perhaps? 

 

Can these administrators read, count and plan or should we enrol them in the newly promised (again - -(this time on borrowed money!)  infant schools?

 

Virginia Verity

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