Would it not have been more prudent if the Government came to the public and say, for example, we are currently subsidising super gasoline by 15 per cent but we would like to remove this subsidy in a planned way. We propose that for every year for three years from now, we will remove five per cent per year or seven and a half per cent per year for two years.
The public will then know and expect this and be able to plan their monthly living budget accordingly, decide if to buy a new car, used car, or no car. But to come in Parliament in a mid-year review and say that with immediate effect the super gas subsidy has been removed shows their total disrespect to citizens.
I distinctly recalled that the Minister of Finance saying that in the mid-year review, a discussion on the removal subsidy would be initiated. This was not done. A decision was made with immediate effect. This kind of high-handedness and deceit must not be tolerated by the people. Why do they do these things? It’s because they can get away with it. We have not yet matured as a people and society to take the necessary action.
The same disrespect was meted out to the public servants who had an agreement for their back pay but were told in the mid-year review that the method of payment is to be changed without any consultation with them. Can you imagine this in this day and age? The citizens are just sitting down and being slapped up by the Government!
Many citizens are fed up with this type of behaviour by politicians across the board. We should make them account and take responsibility. This is tantamount to bullying by the Government.
Rhea Whisky