One member of the Social Security Board who represented at this morning's ceremony was Dylan Reneau. He wore a sharp guayabera and donned a happy face for the ceremony, but as they say, "he noh happy!" The union agreed to a wage freeze in 2005. But that freeze should have been thawed out in July of 2006 with the institution of a merit based increment system. Well now the PSU says it's done the paperwork, done the reform, but can't get the money. Reneau today told us a definite maybe just isn't going to cut it.
Dylan Reneau, PSU President
"Jules the Prime Minister said it in the House that our increments would be unfrozen July 1st. We have had several meetings between BNTU and PSU that the increment would be unfrozen July 1st. The only thing that hasn't happened is that we haven't gotten any written confirmation of that, it only has been verbal. The current status is that just last week, I received a circular memo from the Ministry of Home Affairs written to all the officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs stating that there has been no written confirmation that the increment freeze has been lifted, therefore the increment freeze remains in effect and that is the position."
Jules Vasquez,
How likely is it that you will receive the increment that was promised, all things being considered, government's financial position?
Dylan Reneau,
"Jules you have a very good point there and that is why we want social dialogue. If you are having these problems, when you listen to the Prime Minister in the public forums everything is going well. It is only after things are leaked and pressure is put on him then you hear a little squeak of what is the truth. If this is the case Jules we would have to sit down and talk about this."
Jules Vasquez,
At the time you were saying reform, resign, or be removed and I guess that was the undertaking for reform. If that fails?
Dylan Reneau,
"You just said it Jules. I don't think you want me to put it on record again. The Prime Minister has said that he won't resign. March 1st was the first step towards the last star and honestly I am concerned about the situation in this country. If we don't get the right people in there to seriously assess the situation and do the right things, this country is heading...it is like a sinking ship."
The Prime Minister and the Financial Secretary who will eventually have to award the increments, or not, returned to the country today after a quick meeting with international financial institutions in Washington.
