Dear Editor,
Given the level of corruption, discrimination and marginalization against one segment of the population, the handing out of a one-off payment from oil revenues would be a recipe for disaster. A more simplified way of ensuring the vulnerable, irrespective of race enjoys the good life resulting from the oil boom would be:
All households earning less than one hundred thousand dollars per month should be provided with free water and electricity. Subsidize both entities with revenue from oil.
Employees earning less than one hundred thousand dollars per month shall be exempted from income tax.
Increase the minimum wage for employees in the Private Sector.
Reconsider the imposition of VAT on essential items.
Provide duty free concessions on building material and household items to re-migrants with regulations to ensure it is used for the purpose intended.
Subsidize N.I.S. to ensure all pensioners are paid across the board increase.
Set up a policy to pay unemployment benefits.
Increase the rates for old age pensioners who are not in receipt of N.I.S. and other pensions.
Provide a fleet of school buses to provide free transportation in depressed areas.
Implementing the above will have a more immediate impact on the most vulnerable without having to cope with the bureaucratic hassle of uplifting the one-off payment, and, the amount given per household may be less than the five thousand U.S. dollars.
Yours faithfully,
D. Singh
