The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of One News SVG.
For 24 plus years, one of the main arguments the New Democratic Party (NDP) has leveled against the former Prime Minister is that he is a liar. If we got a dollar for every time we heard that, we would probably be millionaires. Therefore, the last thing you would expect after the new government has been sworn in, is to feel like you were lied to or seriously misled less than 30 days in such a brutal fashion.
I remember on the issue of salaries during the election campaign ULP offered 3% to public servants while NDP offered first a double salary to be paid in December. The NDP leadership was the one that stated they would do it in December. We all have seen the clips where during the campaign the NDP boldly stated you can expect this if they formed government. I can also recall NDP supporters were doing mathsonline and laughing after ULP supporters mocked the former government’s offer asking if you will vote for 3% when you can get double salary. Lol
This double salary offer by the leadership of NDP I must think they carefully thought about the dynamics of what this would require but still went boldly and made this promise to the Vincentian people. As the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, he would have an idea of the state of the finances in the treasury.
The image that stood out the most is during the press conference between our current prime minister and the president of the PSU, The PSU president declared that for the first time in the history of SVG, all the public servants were going to get a double bubble for Christmas. The smile and the thunderous clap of approval that the current leader of our country made.
The NDP manifesto on the website stated a salary bonus (just some additional cash on your salary) to all public servants in 60 days . Interestingly enough there were also NDP cards which stated a double salary in December.
So, looking back, you had different offers, Double salary for December, a salary bonus for December, and a salary bonus in the first 60 days. Was the mixed messaging a plan to deceive and confuse the Vincentian electorate by the NDP leadership? This has led to the public being confused depending on which one of the offers you were exposed to.
Fast forward the NDP won the election and as a social commentator said, now the hard part starts. The first statement after being in power on this issue was a denial that they never said double salary but it was a salary bonus. In 60 days for all public servants Wow! A massive lie when you have video, audio and screenshots that can easily disproved that.
When civil servants received their December pay package they got neither the double salary nor any additional bonus .
Social media was on fire with memes like one that parodied the abbreviation NDP to mean No Double Pay,ā instead of New Democratic Party. People were just out right roasting and mocking the NDP leadership. Many persons commented online that they know if the former prime minister had promised a double salary they knew for sure they would have gotten it.
Due to the outrage on social media, it was no surprise the leadership of NDP responded the following day. The official position now is some and most civil servants will receive a double salary in 60 days. It can be in January but will make a further statement on it . It is important to note that the double salary will be skewed for those on the lower scale.
Trust is a fragile thing . This saga reminds me of the story in a book called Animal Farm. For 24 years you complained and said when you get in power you would be different. In less than 30 days your speech changed from double salary in Christmas for every civil servant, to some, then to most civil servants, and now skewed to be paid in 60 days. This is deceitful and shows the next few years will be interesting.
I will close by breaking down the final scene of Animal Farm which states that no matter how honorable, no matter how well-intentioned, revolutionaries who win and become leaders quickly fall into the same habits and evils of their previous oppressors once power corrupts them.
By D. John
Opinion pieces can be sent to us at onenewsstvincent@gmail.com
One News SVG 