Is the Government running out of MONEY?
POST SECONDARY STUDENTS STILL WAITING FOR 2007 ALLOWANCE!
The belief that the Government of President Michel has already run out of money only two months into the 2007 budget is growing with each day that passes. Most building contractors are complaining that it is becoming extremely difficult to the extent of being impossible, in 2007, in getting paid for work carried out over twelve months ago. On complaining to the respective Ministries, the contractors are being informed that due to a lack of funds the Ministry of Finance has been holding back on the approved 2007 Budget allocations for the Ministries.
This situation has been further amplified this week with the post secondary students complaining that they are yet to receive their monthly allocation in 2007. According to the students, delaying tactics are seemingly being employed by the authorities to further delay the payments. They were promised an increment of SR100 starting January 2007, but now they are being asked to apply for the extra SR100 by filling in a form. According to the students, information provided to them previously indicated that the extra SR100 would be automatically added onto their allowances, at least for students who qualified and were already receiving the benefits last year.
The students are also not very happy about the criteria under which the allowances are being paid out. Under present rules, a student becomes eligible to receive the allowance unless the combined salary of both parents exceed SR6,000 (six thousand rupees). The students are unanimously against this rule, because they see themselves as adults and in choosing to stay on in full time education, they should not be a burden, financially on their parents. They feel that the Government of the day should contribute towards their expenses because at the end of their apprenticeship, Society and the Government of the day stand to benefit enormously from the skills they have acquired.
One student pointed out that on reaching 63 yrs old – everyone without exception is paid a retirement pension of SR1750 per month, regardless whether one has saved any money or not during his or her lifetime. This includes ex-Presidents – who earns two thirds of the official salary of the sitting President, ex-Ministers, millionaires and other business people, with hundreds of thousands in the banks. In fact, there is no discrimination when it comes to paying out the “Pansyon vye dimoun”, the students remarked. Why can’t we be treated as their equal? Another student asked.
This newspaper is of the view that all students who chose to stay in full time education after their formal secondary studies should be paid an allowanced without exception, simply because at that level education is a major financial burden on family incomes. It will be an indication that the Government appreciates the value of further education in the economic welfare of the country.
Millions are being wasted every year on IDC. If President Michel acts now by closing down IDC, the government will have 12 million rupees each year to finance post secondary education. Privatising the outlying islands will generate substantial sums as well which can be put to good use in supporting post secondary education for the largest number of people.
There are other areas where State resources are being plundered. 4.5 million dollars (the equivalent of SR27, 681,300 (twenty-seven million rupees) was gifted to a bogus construction company in