The Editor Amandala,
Sir,
This morning, Thursday, Mr. Sedi Elrington called the WUB Morning Show to say that the primary duty of a government is to protect the country’s citizens. I think that it is nearly as important that a government ensures that all the people are gainfully employed.
I know that there are laws re- this global economy (the New World Order) to guide how we conduct our business. For example, we understand that it is not legal to subsidize agribusinesses. Still, aggressive nationalistic countries find ways to keep their farmers in business…even when they are not competitive on the world market.
It is my feeling that our leaders are not doing enough to protect local industries. Two large businesses in the Ladyville area – Nova Shrimp and Williamson Industries, have suffered recently because of lack of protection.
I understand that Nova Shrimp Farm was hit by an aggressive virus, and international dumping (sabotage) in the middle of a bold major expansion, and could not sustain their program. The farm went under and hundreds of hard working Belizeans lost their jobs. Now we hear the story that Williamson Industries, another major employer, might be going under too. Hundreds more hard working Belizeans will lose their jobs.
To my mind, allowing major industries to go under when we have no jobs waiting for those displaced is not dissimilar to a government firing hundreds of workers. The government must make use of every available resource to keep the textile industry going. There is enough windfall loot coming from the oil find to subsidize this industry. Of course, the solutions will have to be creative to keep us in good standing among international friends.
The thought of a few hundred, maybe even a thousand more people under pressure from no money coming in, is painful. The thought of further injury to local industries, especially fast food, fresh food, services, and entertainment is staggering.
There are those who have secure jobs, or have a tidy nest egg sitting in the bank, that don’t give a damn. If you are a callous capitalist pig, it might be bully for you…if you lived behind burglar bars and drove an armored car to and fro.
People have to eat, wear clothes, and pay rent and other utilities. It is their right to jobs to earn the money to meet these basic needs. If the government cannot find ways to keep local industries afloat, then it must set up a welfare system with the oil money.
(Signed) Colin