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| Volume No. 1 Issue No. 37 - Saturday February 15, 2003 |
Public Servants Unhappy
 by Thomson Fontaine
Public Servants in Dominica are once again shaping up for a confrontation with government. Seven months after the imposition of a four percent levy on wages as part of an IMF Economic Stabilization program, government workers are been asked to accept a two day reduction in the working month with a corresponding pay reduction as a means of cutting back on government expenditure.
The response from the Public Service Union (PSU), which represents more than half of public servants was a resounding no to government�s offer. News of the rejection came just a day after government announced that it would lay off over 150 workers from the Ministry of Agriculture in a further attempt to reduce on expenditure. The PSU have vowed to fight governments attempt to lay off the workers and is rallying its membership through the holding of meetings and public discussions.
In the meantime, President of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Celia Nicholas said the executive would meet with teachers island-wide to discuss the government's proposals. In the past, the DAT has openly expressed support for the government's stabilization measures in the past, however, Nicholas said the plan to have teachers work two days less a month would not work for the education sector because it would affect the students' learning process.
Opposition Leader Edison James in weighing in on the public discussion said that government had effectively lied to the public after assuring them that there would be no further cuts since the Stabilization levy was sufficient for the recovery program.
The Dominican economy continues to go through a severe economic downturn. Banana exports continue to fall and tourism revenues remain flat. Just last week, government raised the price of imported petrol by $0.50 cents to $7.89 E.C a gallon ($2.94 US). Bus drivers from around the country blocked roads and brought traffic to a virtual standstill after government refused to allow an increase in passenger fares. Government however quickly relented and allowed a $0.50 cent increase in passenger fares along with a promise to look more closely at the passenger pricing structure, after the protest action.
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