Saturday, 5th April 2008
Making good use of taxpayers' money
With reference to the letter Enough Is Enough At The Shipyards by Tony C. Cutajar (March 24) let me try and explain the following:
I am a shipyard worker and have been ever since 1971 and, believe it or not, I am proud to be a shipyard worker, regardless of all that has been said against us.
Obviously, I will never permit people like Mr Cutajar to damage our reputation. It's a pity Mr Cutajar didn't say where he works/worked or maybe he is retired and just living on part of the tax I paid throughout these 37 years.
If, for argument's sake, I earn Lm8,000 a year, the government or, should I say the "taxpayer", would have to fork out Lm700 because the remainder would be coming from foreign currency generated through work carried out in the 'yard.
Now let's look at different sectors on the island and compare them with the 'yard workers.
For example, every policeman, soldier, doctor, teacher, local mayor, beach cleaner, civil servant, member of Parliament (all 69 of them), the President and the First Lady etc are paid from money coming from the "taxpayer" because none of them bring in one single cent (euro) to the island (in foreign currency).
Not to mention all those shops, retail stores, banks, post offices, lotto receivers who only recycle the same money we bring from overseas.
Seeing that Mr Cutajar is so worried about the 'yard being a burden on the country, I ask: Where was he when we (the taxpayers) were forking out Lm120,000 a year to a foreigner who was supposed to be bringing the 'yard on its feet? Now, mind you, don't forget that this foreigner was only responsible for 1,700 people whereas the Prime Minister, who is responsible for the whole nation (400,000), earns a meagre Lm22,000. Does Mr Cutajar know that in the 'yard we still have another three foreigners earning an average Lm70,000 a year each and does he know that the 'yard still employs foreigners whether or not we have anything to do in the 'yard?
If Mr Cutajar is really worried about the "taxpayers" why did he not criticise those responsible for all those foreign consultants this government has appointed?
Does Mr Cutajar know that the government appointed consultants just to supervise the Manwel Dimech Bridge project at a cost of nearly Lm500,000?
So, does Mr Cutajar have any solution should the 'yard close down? And what would happen to the families of the 1,700 workers there, not to mention the families of the nearly 200 agents that deal directly with the 'yard?
Would Mr Cutajar please leave us alone and let us earn our daily bread because the government has enough problems to deal with.
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Comments
The problem with the shipyards is not how much the workers and administration earn, it is the lack of efficiency and the lack of cooperation with administration. Mr. Xerri, for example, did not explain why two years ago substantial progress towards eliminating the loss was made, only to be followed the next year with a larger deficit when the value of the contracts had increased.
It is also worth noting that the trades he mentioned and including the parliamentarians not bringing a single cent to the economy is pure hogwash. All are providing a service which, if not there, Mr. Xerri will no doubt be the first to complain and with regards to the PM and the MPs, who does Mr. Xerri think that we should replace them with? As it is someone should put forward a member's bill to double their salaries pronto because MPs on either side put up with much more from their constituents than Mr. Xerri ever has to worry about.
Besides, Mr. Cutajar never mentioned wages - not one single time.
Yes some 1700 families depend on a job at the shipyards, the problem is, it is the 1700 who do not seem to care that much. They should be running after their Union and ask them for a solution even if it means putting an extra effort to make the enterprise more efficient and hence profitable before it is too late.
Mr. Xerri will never make it in the accountancy field and demonstrates so with his calculation that the taxpayer only has to fork out Lm700 out of his Lm8000 annual salary to keep the 'yards going because the rest comes from foreign currency!! Some valid calculation!! Some solution!!
He then quotes fees paid to consultants. Well and good. The problem with that claim is that Mr. Xerri forgets that these fees are a one off expense, built in the price of the project and necessary in every instance.
The subsidies to Mr. Xerri's salary and the rest of the workers at the 'yard are recurring and have been going on for more than three decades and responsible for millions per year not counting on some Lm300 million written off by the government not so many years ago.
(Resubmitted)