THE EDITOR, Sir:

I'm no bright spark but I know I'm a slave of the State.

I've been employed by the Government of Jamaica, within an organisation that falls under the Ministry of Education, for almost three years now and thus far I've got nothing to show for my years in the service.

I'm currently earning a salary that's next to nothing. I'm being paid at a monthly salary of $26,600 after tax, of which more than half is used to fund transportation to and from work. I'm no bright spark, but yet I'm no dunce, as I've got five CXCs, three of which I've got (English language, social studies and visual arts) and the other two at pass mark (biology, information technology).

I worked within the private sector doing manual labour some years ago, and back then I was way more comfy working as I could see what I was working for. I could save a little and I could afford to stay alive. In fact, there is an individual I left at the plant that's now driving a car he bought not too long ago, while I, a government employee, CAN'T afford to feed myself for a month.

My uncle, who has been working at the same plant too for quite a few years and is now doing sanitation duties, takes home more than twice my pay at more than $50,000.

At age 25, I've got no money in the bank, no furniture bought and no major achievement, and I'm still living with my mother.

I live a life on credit, forever owing someone as I can't afford whatever I want or need straight up.

I've never voted and I will never vote for the current Government (the PNP) or the Opposition (JLP), as neither of the two is worth my vote.

What kind of Government pays an employee such meagre salary? How can someone survive on that with the constant hike in the prices of life's essentials?

I know for sure that the current Government and our MP, D.K. Duncan, will never win again in my constituency. No member of my household and family is voting for either party again.

As I write this, I'm currently a broken man, in the pockets and within. I've got way over a week before the slave I am gets 'paid' and I've got no money to buy food or to take me to work till then. People see me on the road and think I've got money, but I pity their simple minds as I suffer far more than they do.

The Government of Jamaica is a cruel heartless clique.

There are days when I get up and feel like not going to work as I've got no inspiration. Take last Christmas, for example. I had no 'Christmas dinner', as I couldn't afford to buy food. My mom and I had nothing to eat.

If the prime minister truly has a heart, please prove me wrong. Please show you really love the poor. Please show us you are worthy to be trusted to lead this country on the right path. This country needs a leader, and thus far neither Andrew Holness nor Portia Simpson Miller has proven to be that person.

B.N.R. KERR

Slave In Distress

kerrmainc_ent@yahoo.com