Big Bucks for Lawyers & None for the Sufferers

Having listened to recent news that the Government will be paying out over $260m of taxpayers money to members of the judicial panel in the Tivoli Enquiry, I can’t help but join with the residents of Tivoli to hit out against the Government for such a ludicrous move. Have they gone crazy? Isn’t it ironic that while we have hospitals without proper medical equipment, pothole ridden roads, schools without proper sanitary conveniences, homeless people combing the streets, persons on hospital waiting lists & teachers on a wage freeze etc. the government has found close to $260 million to pay the affluent while the victims are yet to be compensated?

What is the rationale behind paying one person over $50m to sit and observe other lawyers asking people questions? Take into consideration that besides his pay, $3m is spent on hotel accommodation, another $700,000 for security, $1m for first class trips to & from Barbados and another $1m for transportation along with miscellaneous expenses. At the end of this Enquiry, he’ll be going home with close to $57 million!

In addition to this, a total of $86m will be shared equally between two lawyers, $42m each for two junior lawyers and ironically, the legal secretary who has the most work in the Enquiry, will leave with a meager $29m. Having paid these people so much money, if they’re smart then they could take a break from their profession. Let’s not forget the millions it is costing to rent the building, to provide break/lunch and whatever else is considered a luxury for the average Tivoli resident.

Left out in the cold are those residents of Tivoli who suffered in the incursion; many lost their loved ones, many still have nightmares and many are left with scars as a reminder of that fateful ordeal. Will they be compensated? And if so, how soon?

On the flip side of things, the Opposition (JLP) will be using this opportunity to blast the Government yet it was they who forced the Government into having an Enquiry. It was the JLP who emphasized the need for the people of Tivoli to receive justice by way of an Enquiry into what happened. What were the results? Days upon days of squabbling and hours wasted on asking questions that are yet to be answered.

Wouldn’t it be cheaper if the Government gave a minimum $260,000 to each Tivoli resident who suffered in the incursion, aid in fixing their homes or provide financial assistance to build back their businesses which were destroyed? Wouldn’t it be more pleasing and more logical to give the money to people who would inevitably give back most of it to the Government by way of taxes? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this would be cheaper and more practical.

Isn’t it ironic that after spending so much money for a foreigner to come here simply to listen to lawyers asking questions, the residents won’t receive any form of compensation or redress?

This is what I call a battle between the intelligent & the illiterate and as expected, the intelligent has won!

I am the Laydee Sharmz saying ‘don’t be fooled by politicians & their gimmicks’