Faber Criticizes Briceño Administration Over Economy
Patrick Faber
To make matters worse, the cost of living, particularly fuel, continues to inch upward. In the past four weeks, the price per gallon of regular, premium and diesel gasoline has increased considerably. Faber’s sharp criticism, however, comes after twelve years of the United Democratic Party being in office. During that time the Barrow administration was also responsible for the ballooning of the national debt. In the last year in office, the U.D.P. borrowed and spent seven hundred million dollars.
Patrick Faber, Leader of the Opposition
“The fact that gasoline prices are so high as well, fuel prices in general are so high causes major concern. So all of this combined, no, it’s not the best way. Now, will the government have to take measures? We’ve said yes, but that’s not where they should start. In fact, we’re not just preaching this. In fact, this was the practice of the UDP. You know the former prime minister did his best, supported by all of us in the cabinet to ensure that there was no pay cut to our teachers, public servants, police officers. And we make these distinctions because sometimes people don’t realize that some of the very same frontline workers, the nurses, the doctors, the police officers, they are going to get a pay cut when in fact they have been taking a licking on the frontline fighting this pandemic.”
Isani Cayetano
“One could argue nonetheless, that for the sake of political expedience, the previous administration may have staved off any salary cuts or whatsoever because it was an election year and now that this particular government is faced with that reality, you’re singing a different tune.”
Patrick Faber
“Well the truth is that when faced with these negative situations, in terms of the economy, all things are an option. But what you cannot deny is that the UDP administration, maybe from the time the pandemic entered which was around this time last year. It was an election year yes, but we did everything that we could do to stave that off. That is what I hear the teachers and the public servants saying. They are saying, “Listen, we are not opposed to this kinda cut, you know, but this cut has to come when you’ve tried everything else.”
