Davies noble, but misguided
published: Thursday | May 25, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

RECENTLY, A number of persons have been expressing dismay that anyone would criticise the Government's raiding of NHT and NIF funds for the purpose of helping the poor and indigent. While it certainly is a government's responsibility to give a helping hand to its most disadvantaged citizens, I think that a very important point is being missed here.

When people pay income and educational taxes, that money belongs to the Government which has the constitutional authority to use those monies collected for the nation's best interest. Not so with monies collected for the NIF and NHT. These monies belong to the contributors to these schemes and are to be used ONLY for the benefit of these contributors.

To put this into perspective, it would be as if Omar Davies went around with a Brinks truck to all the commercial banks and credit unions in Jamaica and raided the personal accounts of private depositors under the guise of 'helping poor people'. A noble intention, yes. But the fact remains, the monies in question do NOT belong to the government! This is practically stealing!

As far as finance ministers go, I have always held Omar Davies to be fiscally irresponsible, but this is a new low even for him.

I am, etc.,

PETER HOPKINS

hopkins99@sympatico.ca

Toronto, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica