Demand for allowance from bankrupt govt; VIP croc tears
Cassandra is sick to her innermost core seeing on TV daily, multiple protests of motley crowds toting banners and marching all across roads and in many instances being tear gassed and water cannoned. She is sure that like her, five sixths of adult citizens in this doomed and gloomed land are sick of these protests. Many must be meeting them and being impeded as they go about their daily business.
The most recent protest was by all trade unions demanding that the budget to be presented shortly include a clause (or whatever) granting all state and corporate workers an extra Rs20,000 added to their salaries. To Cass math was never a forte, rather it was an incomprehensive, incalculable mystery of numerals; that is to say arithmetic and calculus. Geometry and algebra were worse with their diagrams and x-s and y-s.
So, she simply cannot even consider, leave aside calculate, how much the government will have to fork out if this allowance to all employees is granted. Every state sector is overstaffed, politicians from way back stuffing offices with their voters and faithfuls. So just imagine how much this special allowance will amount to. And what is the state of the government coffers, its treasury?
Just beginning to collect a little money due mainly to the slight stability wrought to the economy of the country by Ranil W and the Central Bank being more comfortable in its foreign earnings due to enhanced tourism and better management by its Governor. And men and women in their thousands go marching here and there, demanding salary hikes.
Admitted that salaries earned now are outpaced by the soaring cost of living. Also, that people have cut down to the minimum what they eat – a basic human need. It is believed some have just one meal a day. Children are malnourished. But people should understand the country is bankrupt and is also striving hard to pay back debts.
They should not protest asking for a benefit that cannot be given unless of course the CB starts printing money which it did under a previous Governor on the instructions of previous brethren who were in power. They lived extravagantly and constructed massive white elephantine buildings and structures, all on government money which kept the money printing press working overtime.
These protests for the extra Rs 20,000 shows clearly traits of the Sri Lankan psyche of ignorant non-caring and utter selfishness. It’s asking for oneself. Are the protestors or their leaders and instigators unaware that we are bankrupt, have resorted to being assisted by the IMF and have been given certain strictures to observe and follow? Basic fact is that these protesters should know where to get all that money to pay each employee Rs 20,000 extra from now onwards, when the government is scraping its money barrel just to pay people’s salaries. Pensions were threatened.
The editorial of Wednesday November The Island states solid figures which substantiate Cass’ opinion given above. Here are the facts that must be repeated often. Such do not penetrate the mind of the man ever ready to cease job work and get on the streets with vocal cords primed.
1. The state sector employs more than 1.5 million persons
2. Thus there is one state employee for every 14 citizens
3. The number of public sector workers has more than doubled in number within the last 15 years. (How and why? Politicians with clout getting jobs for their supporters with not a thought for the country. Again, utter selfishness. And the system allowing this transgression)
This mass convergence of protestors, if they have to shout and parade the streets and cannot live quietly doing what they have to do by day – earn livings – should protest about valid issues. They find life difficult. How did life become so difficult? Through mismanagement of governments. Through siphoning off money from where it should legitimately be spent – that is for the welfare of the people. This means thieving and corruption. So, these restless men and women, and more so their leaders who are constantly and noisily on the streets, should protest against those who made life so difficult for them and the rupee worthless. Go protest about them who were corrupt and mismanaged affairs. Shout for them to be caught, and the money pilfered returned to the country.
Will our hoi polloi ever learn? Not likely is the totally dismal and disappointing answer. Subservience to politicians, to leaders, to rabble rousers and deplorable selfishness with not a thought for the welfare of the country is the make-up of most adult Sri Lankans now.
Affirmations
And, thus, the shock Cass suffered on reading The Island of November 1. Front page has this news item: “SJB backs pay hike demand” and on page 2 “Prez to propose salary hike for state sector.” Call of the vote overtakes sense and sensibility. Self-centeredness yet again. Initial shock over, Cass smiled a wry smile and admitted there is a chasm between making a statement and delivering what is stated.
The SJB leader can circumlocute and elocute in both Sinhala and English if he wins power and explain at length reasons why pay hike for the horde of public servants is not feasible. Ranil W is master at escaping from tight spots. His budget may promise an extra allowance to public servants but not mention the date. He will mentally grant it in 2048 which equals the never never.
VIP croc tears
It was so heartrendingly touching to hear and see the Son and Heir of the family that considers itself the First Family still, metaphorically weeping over the welfare of the people of Sri Lanka. From the verandah of his home, apparently, surely a mansion, Namal Rajapaksa pronounced that the ordinary people of this country are suffering and should be helped. Cass forgets in connection with what issue NR made this remark. Was it over the electricity tariff hike or because some SLPP MPs have still not been made cabinet ministers by obstinate Prez Ranil W though he owed everything – his position, his recent wide globe-trotting, his international prominence, to them the SLPPers and more so to Papa Mahinda.
(Uncle forgotten). Well, whatever the issue, Namal R did metaphorically cry over the literal plight of us all who make up the suffering majority of the 22 million Sri Lankans in a country that could be flourishing but was sent plummeting down to bankruptcy. By whom? Cass leaves it at that. But adds it is heart strings pulling to find young, so well to do politicians sparing a thought, and a tear, for us: The Ordinaries.
But, of course, except for the command rather than pleading to the Prez to ease the burden of suffering of Sri Lankans due to fare hikes etc., the Attorney-at –Law did not give solutions to the problem he drew attention to. At least cannot he sacrifice his monthly MP’s remuneration for the good of some starving countrymen, more so hungry country children?
Royal visit and acknowledgement
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were on a four day visit to Kenya, October 31 to November 3. He laid a wreath and made a speech acknowledging the painful aspects of the association of the UK and Kenya. But the Kenyan Human Rights Commission and other bodies want him to offer an unequivocal public apology for dehumanizing treatment of Kenyans during British colonial rule and particularly in the period 1952 to 1960, when the Mau Mau fighters for independence were incarcerated in concentration camps by Brit soldiers and tortured and killed. Kenya got its independence in 1963.
The King of Britain publicly admitting his country was at fault and recognizing it, should be sufficient. It was a great gesture. We are certain it was a sincere admission since King Charles is different from his proud, unbending ancestors.
