BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE DECISION to have water bills paid at the Needsmust Offices on the outskirts of Basseterre is being seen as an example of insensitivity to the lower economic groups and to senior citizens. It is being interpreted as a disconnect between government and the poorer classes.
To those who have a cheque book and a means of transportation, this is not an imposition. The cost of a 30 cent postage stamp to post a cheque or a drive up to the Needsmust office is hardly a burden on those who have achieved this level of operation.
But why hasn’t consideration been given to senior citizens who often live alone or single mothers and those who must each day find bus fares for themselves and their children to make the daily commute to work or school. They, too, have water bills to pay.
Considering the increasing stresses brought about by the present economic situation; of making ends meet; of combating fears of criminal attack; of meeting the new VAT charges, it is felt that a caring government would do whatever it could to lighten the burden of stress and thereby help to enhance the life of its citizens.
Were any other alternatives discussed or even considered?
Dotted around the communities one sees large Community Centres which are often underused. There are post offices for instance. Would it be too much to ask that a clerk be stationed at a Community Centre or at the Post Office or Police Station or some other convenient building once per week to collect payments on water bills?
Has the disconnect between Government and taxpayers been brought about by the Government’s inability to recognise that there are varying economic levels in the local population and that there are many deeply in need of assistance?
Many trade unions and political parties would claim that their genesis and ongoing role is to help to bring relief to the poor, but nowadays the gap between rich and poor seems to be widening and less and less attention is being paid to those who are economically struggling.
The Economist (Mar 11, 2004) in an article entitled ‘A question of Justice’ had this to say:
“Heed the call...
People and their governments in the West should heed the call of compassion, and respond with policies to help the world's poor, and indeed to advance the opportunities of the (much less desperately) poor in their own countries.”
Can we be accused of a lack of compassion with regard to the sudden steep jump in our electricity bills and the way we designate that our water bills should be paid regardless of the hardship that accompanies these two measures?
In a Christian oriented society such as ours we have only to heed the call of the hymns we sing with righteous zeal each Sunday:
“Do good unto others, do good while we can,
Our moments how quickly they fly;
Remember the proverb, remember it now,
We all can do good if we try.
We all can do good, and we all can bestow
Some gift for the sake of the Lord;
If only a cup of cold water we give,
Our souls will not lose their reward.” - Fanny Crosby
Making life easier for others should never be seen as old fashioned, being too soft, or contrary to good economic outcomes. It is one of the ways we mould and unify a society.
