Dear Editor,
Sometimes the impressions created by information coming from Parliament and our ministers press briefing are very confusing while giving a glimmer of hope of things to come.
Just recall that our Parliament had such great concern with the secretly established “afpak” team that they called a meeting to debate it. Somewhat like putting the cart in front of the horse because we were thought that there should be debate before decision making and not the other way around. It is extremely dangerous and an affront to the legal and democratic process to allow a minister and the Prosecutor’s Office to start an action by an arrangement that never was handled by the representatives of the people and was not published for anyone to see in the national gazette.
This weekend our Minister of Labour, in an address to the ILO conference, stated that too many work permits are being disseminated to foreigners for jobs or functions that locals can do. It is hard to figure out if the minister resides here for this has been the cry of the people for the longest of time. It had become so that our people lacking information on how the system works started to blame everybody. God knows the Department of Labour took its share of the blame even though they are not the competent authority for issuing work or resident permits.
Our government has become so complacent with this unfair and abusive action that to justify it they have joined with others to sell the false narrative that our education system does not produce what our economy needs. Strangely enough the same people responsible for the resident and work permits are responsible for scholarships and the school curriculum.
We are falsely and screamingly told by members of government that all this would change with the arrival of “The Pearl of China” project; that we appear sceptical or cynical about that assurance is that government has never, to date that I can remember, stood up to guaranty employment for locals. They argued to the joy of the employer that they can’t tell investors who to employ or that securing gainful employment for our citizens is protectionism.
There is new ownership at Rouge et Noire Casino in Philipsburg, and we see that they have brought in staff down to waitresses. I guess after more than 60 years we can’t do that either. It is almost a stuck record to speak about Front Street and Back Street, where we are said to be ill-equipped to sell T-shirts and jewellery. While the imported labour hardly speaks English clear enough for anyone to understand; and by the way, if a certain qualification is needed why not have these folks evaluated to see what credentials they have beside their place of origin and complexion.
As the heading states, it offers optimism because our Parliament and ministers have awoken and at least began the conversation that should have started 20 years ago. We, however, remain cautious when we see them making these statements during a Kodak moment, but without motions, draft laws or solutions. If governing was solely about pinpointing the problems and challenges we would have 20 geniuses between Parliament and the Executive.
Elton Jones
