Dear Editor,
A working definition of propaganda is the spreading of information or rumour for the purpose of helping or injuring a cause. Clearly, the head of the government propaganda arm, Mr Imran Khan appears to be following the traditions and characteristics of his immediate predecessor, Mr Kwame McKoy, very closely. One only has to observe the publicity blitz from the DPI on this 2017 Budget to arrive at this conclusion. So while the DPI continues to drive a lopsided propaganda agenda that the working man is better off as a result of the 2017 Budget, the rational mind will know such utterances are nothing but a blatant untruth.
Yes, every family which has a breadwinner who earns more than $60,000 per month should be grateful for the minimum $1,500 per month bump in their disposable income, if this sum were allowed to remain in their pockets. But that vampire 2017 Budget sucks every single cent and more of that increase out of the workers’ pockets by way of the draconian VAT on electricity, water, health care and educational services. This refines the art of punishing working people.
If one looks at the salary situation of an ordinary teacher compared to that of a minister in the Granger cabinet, the calculations are shocking. In summary from the table below, a teacher on the TSC (2) scale earns an average of $68,743 per month. Those teachers in that pay bracket will lose an average of $98 per month from their salaries because of Budget 2017. There is a high possibility they will lose more because of Budget 2017. So where will this ordinary teacher find $1,200 new dollars every year to feed the ministers of this Granger cabinet?
But when you compare the loss of the ordinary teachers to the gains secured by the average minister in the Granger cabinet, the discoveries are scandalous. The average minister will take home an additional $360,000 per year in after-tax income because of Budget 2017. Can you imagine people who are exempt from paying VAT on most of their personal perks like light bills and water bills are asking the ordinary teachers to undertake such financial responsibilities? What hypocrisy!
Because of the 2017 Budget, the poor will have to eat less. Let me make it absolutely clear to the defenders of this vampire budget: I have always held closely the words of Tony Benn, the former British parliamentarian, who once said, “In politics there are weathercocks and signposts”. Weathercocks will spin from one side of an issue to another side based on how many gold coins dropped into their pockets, no matter what principle they have to compromise. Signposts on the other hand stand true and tall and principled, irrespective of the direction of the wind and they continue to point in a direction and say this is where you ought to go. I want to be remembered as a signpost who will always stand with the poor and the working class.
Therefore it is my duty to stand against this this parasitic 2017 Budget every step of the way. As a liberal democrat, I will always stand with the poor and the working class. I did it against the PPP when they lost their moral compass in the latter portions of their rule and I am prepared to combat this PNC-led Granger administration if this abuse of the poor and the working class continues. I am prepared to stand fearlessly against anyone who thinks their papa and mama left them a transport on the people’s Treasury and a power of attorney to punish the workers. This abuse of the poor has to be confronted.
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
