G.O.B.’s Wage Bill: Staring Down a Difficult Situation

Patrick Faber

Government’s bloated wage bill is in excess of half a billion dollars in salaries for public officers.  It is a looming crisis that any new government would have to deal with.  U.D.P. Leader Patrick Faber says there is a difficult decision to make, in terms of trimming the fat from government’s wage bill. 

Patrick Faber, Party Leader, U.D.P.

“It is a situation where all who look at it says this thing is not something that we can sustain and I would be disingenuous to you if I’d say anything like that.  We can continue to go down this path irresponsibly.  It might not be the best move to make right off.  I think consultation with all the stakeholders, the workers unions in particular would be key to the whole thing.  I think people who understand the true plight of the situation will be willing to flex and bend and to give and once we do that, we can certainly find a way out of all of this together.”

Reporter

“Should public officers expect their annual increment next year?”

Patrick Faber

“Well that to me is something to be determined.  It all depends, but as it is now, it is suspended, as you know, and things don’t seem to be getting much better and foregoing increments was an option that was accepted, I think, by and large.  With some difficulty but accepted nonetheless and if what is guaranteed now which is the full salary can be maintained, at least for the short term until we can get to an understanding then I don’t see why some further acceptance on the part of public servants and teachers to continue to make the sacrifice for the sake of the nation would be so difficult.”