CRICK CRACK COMMENTARY TRADE UNION MOVEMENT AND NNP IN BATTLE OVER NIS 50 % HAIR CUT A very serious battle seems to be in the making between the Trade Union Movement , TUC and the Keith Mitchell lead NNP Administration over the proposed 50% hair cut in the debts government owe to the NIS. The NIS is one of four successful developmental institutions established by the Maurice Bishop lead PRG following the revolution of 1979. The other three are the Maurice Bishop International Airport, National Commercial Bank / Republic Bank and the Marketing and National Importing Board. Thirty years after the demise of the revolution these institutions continue to play a very critical role in national development. Had the agro -industrial infrastructure remained intact this would have been yet another major accomplishment of the revolution. It tool the collective wisdom and vision of Maurice Bishop and the revolution to established institutions that promoted sustainable growth and development. What Maurice Bishop and the revolution established in 4 1/2 years , Dr Mitchell and the NNP wants to destroy in 15 months. The NIS was established to ensure that the workers of the country is guaranteed their social security and pension. The TUC was taken by complete surprised when news surfaced that the NNP administration has proposed a 50% hair cut by the NIS. The TUC is adamantly opposed to this proposal and seems prepared to fight to a battle with the government to the end. Grenada may be on the brink of a major economic, political and social confrontation if the Keith Mitchell lead administration goes ahead with the 50 % hair cut as proposed. The problem faced by the TUC however , is that they have supported the structural adjustment program in principle even before knowing all the details in the letter of intent . The TUC lead by Madonna Harford has compromised themselves to the extent that they body is now seen as unpatriotic by the NNP administration in not supporting the hair cut. Dr. Mitchell has skillfully placed a lasso around the neck of the TUC so that they can commit social and economic suicide. The TUC now runs the risk of becoming irrelevant and will lack credibility if they failed to prevent the government from giving the NIS a major hair cut. This NIS issue in my view shouldnt be politicised since it is a major bread and butter issue. Workers employed in the public service after 1983 are not legally illegible for government pensions. The NIS is the only source that can tap into. Any depletion in the financial resources of the NIS will put these workers at extreme risk and closer into the poverty web. The prime minister is on record as saying that he saw two former prime ministers die poor and he is not prepared to go down that road, yet he is implementing policies that will see thousands of workers dieing poor,This is so unfair to the hard working public servants of the nation.. The public servants who are employed under vote 340 as a result of their political affiliation to the NNP and are not preforming may deserve to die poor , but not the hardworking teachers, policemen, and other public servants. The attack on the NIS however is all part of the government strategy to pressure the workers. The government knows fora fact that this proposal will be rejected by the unions. With the country under a structural adjustment program , one thing is certain, that is cuts must come from somewhere. If the unions strongly resist the proposed hair cut for the NIS then workers will face the possibility of a public service hair cut Both options are however BAD for government and something may have to give sooner rather than later. The reasons put forward by Anthony Boatswain o behalf for the government for the hair cut to the NIS is fundamentally flawed. The NIS shouldnt be compared to other commercial banks , institutions and financial group like the Paris Club. The NIS operates like medicare and medicaid in the United States and its.financial viability and sustainability should be protected at all cost. Parliamentarians like Dr. Mitchell, Gregory Bowen, Anthony Boatswain , Elvin Nimrod , Claris Modeste ,Roland Bhola, Yolande Bain are all guaranteed a government pension having served two consecutive terms in the parliament. The TUC and the workers should therefore stand up and fight hard for their survival or they runs the risk of death like poor old men and women something Dr Mitchell vow will never happen to him. The parliamentarians mentioned above dont need the NIS for anything.. Their children also dont need the NIS. If they need medical attention they will be flown out to the best medical facilities in the United States. etc. It is the poor mothers , carpenters, masons etc who depends on the NIS for medical assistance. The TUC and the workers cant afford to GAMBLE their benefits with a 50 % HAIR CUT to the NIS. Selling states assets to the NIS is a much better economic policy that proposing a 50 % hair cut . Nazim Burke was right, Keith Mitchell is dead wrong!. He should not literally R.i. P monies out of the NIS pocket. . That will kill the investment climate and create thousands of old poor men and women. The TUC MUST stand up and be counted. Chester Humphrey hasnt made a public comment on the issue and so workers need to take their destiny into their own hands. The attack on the NIS may be PAY BACK for the workers for booing Chester Humphrey at the May Day celebrations. Until and unless he comes out and publicly condemn this action by the NNP administration he cant be Trusted to lead the labour movement in any credible way. The workers of the country should be aware of the political , social snd economics dynamics unfolding before them. Serious times require critical thinking and analysis. The clock is ticking on the political life span and ambition of many and the workers may be used as pawns in this vicious political game of chess .The workers therefore can either change the political dynamics in their favour or be changed by the political dynamics for the worst. The choice is clear . GOVERNMENT MUST PAY BACK EVERY CENT OWED TO THE NIS . The Prime Minister should use his creativity and innovative skills to get the economy rolling or if he cant and is not up to the job then do the right thing and pass the baton to any member of the relay team. It just dont make any sense spinning top in mud.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 07:33:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015