No free ride… there is a cost to everything

EDITOR: Recent rises in the price of goods and services remind us that there is a cost to everything that we should pay once they are reasonable. Beginning with government services and ending with the price of fish, how can we determine what is reasonable?

There is a cost to the establishment of a new Ministry of Tertiary Education. What benefits can be derived to justify the increased cost? Will the new officers created be appointed on merit so that we can expect competence and efficiency? Will new work be done now that could not be done by the one Ministry of Education?

Do we have available to us audited financial accounts of the Ministry of Education for 2021? Do we have available to us the analyses of examination results for 2022? Were scholarships for 2021 awarded on merit to students who have demonstrated interests in their areas of study that are most critical to the needs of the country? Is the new Ministry headed by someone that is physically fit to undertake such a task? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then we can pay for the new Ministry.

Retirement benefits make provision for our workers in their senior years. Current workers usually pay for the current retirees. Since unemployment has increased, stress is being placed on the institutions to meet the demands. Wise investments are designed to boost the pension funds and provide some measure of security for the future. Indications are that worker representatives are apparently not allowed to sit on the Pension Boards to secure their interests. Consequently, poor investments with little or no returns are depleting the funds. Funds are being paid out to some who have not contributed. The problem is compounded by failure to collect contributions from many employers. In such circumstances, increased payment is not justifiable. We need to make wise investments of the fund and collect all contributions from employers both living and dead where feasible.

The cost of transport has increased apparently due to the cost of fuel. Due to the poor condition of the roads, the increased cost is not justifiable. Vehicles pay fees for the maintenance of the roads. Therefore, they should be kept in good repair in order to justify increased fares. Additionally, VAT is collected on gasoline so there is no excuse for the poor conditions of the roads. Vehicle operators faithfully pay their fees. Those responsible for maintenance need to get the roads repaired.

The Welfare Ministry needs to have a section called Employment Agency dedicated to linking able bodied persons with jobs. The success of this ministry should be judged by the proportion of persons removed from Public Assistance.

Students receiving Public Assistance should be given the opportunity to work for the assistance received. Moreover, they should demonstrate appreciation by being successful in their academic pursuits. All recipients of Public Assistance should be investigated to determine whether their past employers have paid their social security contributions so that they will become eligible to receive their own Pension funds. The solution to poverty is jobs and self-sufficiency. These we must pursue relentlessly.

The price of fish should be sufficient to cover Social Security contributions of fishermen. They should not join the poverty line upon retirement. We should allow the fishermen to get involved in all the operations of buying, preserving, marketing, and selling fish. Our association with the Taiwanese should be tapped to benefit our fishermen. We need the best and most cost effective method of fishing.

Anthony Stewart, PhD