Dear Editor,

As a civil servant for more than 15 years, I know that many will find what I have to say shocking. I wish to state that I support the current freeze on wages on the condition that the government exercise fiscal prudence to ensure that our country can prosper. Before I go any further, let me first state that I am neither a manager nor a middle-manager, but I have an “officer” post. I do not own a house because I cannot afford one. I drive a very old car and don’t know when I will be able to change it. Therefore, I am not arguing from the standpoint of someone who has enough resources to keep me satisfied.

However, I argue from the standpoint that I believe that it is full time for my sweat and money to worth something. The last time civil servants got a pay increase (about two years ago), we received an additional 12 per cent on our salary. I am not a spendthrift and save my money, even before it reaches the bank. However, in no time at all, I feel like my cost of living is higher and it is almost as if I had not received an increase at all. Now we are due seven per cent and I wonder what that can do.

I am not asking for more money. All I want is for my money to be worth something and that when I save towards a particular goal I am able to reach it and am not frustrated by inflation. I am heartened by the fact that our dollar has revalued over the last few months and that interest rates are trending down. Jamaica needs to produce so that my money can be worth something and is not eaten away by inflation. I know that in the past the policy of Dr Omar Davies was to borrow money to pay civil servants. We cannot go back to that, as such behaviour got us in this mess in the first place. We have made some economic gains since the JDX and our IMF agreement. We civil servants cannot afford to scream for more money and risk taking the country ten steps backwards. Frankly, I believe that we should be demanding benefits over increased pay.

As my parents and grandparents did in the past, I would like to know that I can enjoy the fruits of my labour; work hard and save and acquire assets and wealth here and there. They did not have to rely on alternative investment schemes to get by, or engage in corrupt practices.

To the government, I say that I am one civil servant who is willing to make the sacrifice for now so that my earnings can have some value in the future for both me and my two children. However, I must caution that I am not willing to wait forever for the government to get its house in order.

June Brown

Kingston 8