Govt should say no to public servants
thenassauguardian editorial
How much of the public purse should public servants be entitled to? Compensation to these workers is already around 55 to 60 percent of the national budget. Now the president of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder wants the government to lift the freeze it placed on public service promotions and increments, arguing that inflation is overwhelming the resources of public servants.
This comes nearly a year after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced the freeze in the 2010/2011 budget in May 2010.
Ingraham said public service promotions would be frozen, except in special cases, and that public service employment would also be frozen except in extenuating circumstances. At the time Ingraham said the government was making these adjustments to avoid job losses in the public service.
Pinder is right that inflation is a growing problem. The price of oil per barrel topped $113 yesterday. The entire country is bearing the burden of the increased cost of goods and services.
The solution to the problem, however, faced by public servants can’t simply be for the government to give them more compensation. Where would this money come from?
As we mentioned yesterday regarding the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on infrastructure work by the government, this money is borrowed. And it is borrowed at a time when the country’s debt to GDP ratio is rising. According to figures in the 2010/2011 mid-year budget document, that ratio has risen from 41 percent in 2006 to 56 percent in 2010.
Should the government borrow money to pay public servants more or should it tax the rest of the country to pay this particular group? The first move would be silly and the second unfair.
In the short term, Bahamians will have to conserve during this period of higher prices. In the long term, a policy is needed to introduce alternative energy sources that provide energy to the country at a lower cost than via the burning of fossil fuels.
It is wiser for Bahamians to save and spend wisely as opposed to the government borrowing money to pacify its employees.
The unions know that this is election time and at election time governments borrow and spend generously, seeking to gain votes. Therefore, the unions have started making demands on the treasury.
The cost of satisfying everyone in the short term will be risking the financial well being of the country in the long term.
4/28/2011
thenassauguardian editorial
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Bahamas Public Services Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bahamas Public Services Union. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, May 17, 2010
Bahamas Government to bring to Parliament a new Public Service Bill that would permit ex-convicts to be hired in the public sector
Move by government to hire ex-cons in the public service lauded
By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ kdl@nasguard.com:
Government's intention to bring to Parliament a new Public Service Bill that would permit ex-convicts to be hired in the public sector has met with the approval of the head of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder, who has thrown his support behind these individuals being given a second chance.
"I don't have much concerns about it. I support persons being given second chances. There are a number of persons who may have been in prison for minor offenses, some who through misfortune caused them to commit some crimes and they should be given another opportunity," Pinder told The Nassau Guardian.
"I believe it is fair that those persons who have rehabilitated themselves be given another opportunity. If persons have the expertise or persons do possess skills, I believe that is one way of rehabilitating persons when they are released from prison. They are able to find gainful employment and certainly with government being one of the largest employers in the country it has to lead by example to give persons second opportunities," he said.
His comments came just days after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham made the announcement in the House of Assembly, as part of a comprehensive plan his administration is putting in place to address the burgeoning crime problem.
At the time Ingraham, who was contributing to the debate on a resolution to reappoint a select committee to address crime, said this is something that could have been done by governments of The Bahamas if they chose to.
"There is no law that says you cannot do so, there is a general order that says you cannot do so. Criminals should know that we are determined to implement every measure possible to reduce the opportunities they have to wreak havoc on our community," Ingraham reported. "Young people, who want to turn around their lives, should know that the community will provide them with the opportunities to contribute in their own way to the common good of our country. But young people, and older people who need to turn their lives around should not be lulled into believing that the government is their parent; that the government, using the public purse, will bail them out of every bad decision regardless of how many poor decisions they make."
Pinder was quick to add that the first consideration should be given to all those persons who have worked in the public service for a number of years and have yet to be established.
"Certainly, I would like for them to be given first preference in being able to fill any vacancies that exist in the public service. I also hope that the prime minister with his new amendments would speak to those persons who have the ability to actually run for political office who work in the public service, to be given the opportunity to also do so, and upon not being successful being able to still come back to the public service," Pinder said.
"The reason I say this is a number of businesspersons or rich persons, wealthy persons, normally offer themselves for political office but they really do not have any experience managing government agencies or even having experience of knowing exactly how the government system functions. I believe that is another important aspect to amendment to the public service regulations," he said, adding that the regulations should also speak to a more modernized public service.
May 17. 2010
thenassauguardian
By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ kdl@nasguard.com:
Government's intention to bring to Parliament a new Public Service Bill that would permit ex-convicts to be hired in the public sector has met with the approval of the head of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder, who has thrown his support behind these individuals being given a second chance.
"I don't have much concerns about it. I support persons being given second chances. There are a number of persons who may have been in prison for minor offenses, some who through misfortune caused them to commit some crimes and they should be given another opportunity," Pinder told The Nassau Guardian.
"I believe it is fair that those persons who have rehabilitated themselves be given another opportunity. If persons have the expertise or persons do possess skills, I believe that is one way of rehabilitating persons when they are released from prison. They are able to find gainful employment and certainly with government being one of the largest employers in the country it has to lead by example to give persons second opportunities," he said.
His comments came just days after Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham made the announcement in the House of Assembly, as part of a comprehensive plan his administration is putting in place to address the burgeoning crime problem.
At the time Ingraham, who was contributing to the debate on a resolution to reappoint a select committee to address crime, said this is something that could have been done by governments of The Bahamas if they chose to.
"There is no law that says you cannot do so, there is a general order that says you cannot do so. Criminals should know that we are determined to implement every measure possible to reduce the opportunities they have to wreak havoc on our community," Ingraham reported. "Young people, who want to turn around their lives, should know that the community will provide them with the opportunities to contribute in their own way to the common good of our country. But young people, and older people who need to turn their lives around should not be lulled into believing that the government is their parent; that the government, using the public purse, will bail them out of every bad decision regardless of how many poor decisions they make."
Pinder was quick to add that the first consideration should be given to all those persons who have worked in the public service for a number of years and have yet to be established.
"Certainly, I would like for them to be given first preference in being able to fill any vacancies that exist in the public service. I also hope that the prime minister with his new amendments would speak to those persons who have the ability to actually run for political office who work in the public service, to be given the opportunity to also do so, and upon not being successful being able to still come back to the public service," Pinder said.
"The reason I say this is a number of businesspersons or rich persons, wealthy persons, normally offer themselves for political office but they really do not have any experience managing government agencies or even having experience of knowing exactly how the government system functions. I believe that is another important aspect to amendment to the public service regulations," he said, adding that the regulations should also speak to a more modernized public service.
May 17. 2010
thenassauguardian
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