Opposition Senator Felix Thomas is advocating for more jobs from government for the financially-strapped Public Works Corporation (PWC).
Thomas made the remarks during debate on the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending June 30, 2015, on Wednesday, May 27.
He said the PWC should be the first choice when it comes to sub-contracts for road projects.
“The first choice of sub-contracts and building capacity with Public Works should be priority on the government’s list when it comes to roads,” he said. “I believe that with all those concrete roads, all the walls, I believe we need to give Public Works more work.”
He is also batting for a policy to be put in place that would benefit the PWC.
“I think that we should set a policy where any main road project, a certain percentage should go there,” Thomas stated, adding that staff cut is not going to solve the problem where the Corporation is concerned.
He is of the opinion that PWC’s equipment must get a second look at as well as its “capable” and “qualified” staff.
“But work is what will move the PWC,” he said.
He also wants a plan for the PWC that has to “come with the people, who make the decisions at PWC, if is the board, if is the manager, if is the minister,”
“We have to get a plan going and get it in action,” Thomas said.
The PWC has been mired in protest action over the past days with staff complaining of late salary payments and other issues.
Among calls by the union and staff are more jobs from the government to keep the PWC afloat.
The government has said the PWC will be “restructured” and staff cut will be part of the plan.
I do agree that the PWC should be given priority to road building and maintenance. I am sure that most of the middle aged people will remember that during the 1960’s and 70’s all the major roads were done by the then Public Works Department, which was under the Ministry of Communication and works, and back then they did some good jobs like the West Coast road which the present government call a highway. The road from La pLain to Delices the PWD was responsible for building that also,so there is no reason why the PWC should not be given government projects to do, just give them GOOD SUPERVISORS to make sure the projects are done good and delivered on time.
Every mouth must be fed, Government of the people for the people of the people, look out for the people.
And when they work PAY THE PEOPLE.
Again, in 2015 we have to breakdown simple economics and business management to our government? So who is the supervisor of these “lazy” workers. Doesn’t s/he know how to issue warnings/reprimands/ etc. Why should this have to be handled all the way up to a government office? If our systems are that much of a mess, how are we supposed to solve REAL challenges?!
PWC should only be the first choice if they can do the job according to spec and be the lowest bidder.
This idea of creating jobs for its own sake is not sustainable. In the end entity is paying more than they otherwise should.
They caused the problems themselves they are not responsible people the are to lazy doing nothing all day and expect pay. And that’s the problems all over dominica they don’t work hard enough.
Cries cries and more cries about the defunct PWC. There is nothing left to do but send these lazy and insubordinate bunch packing. Their copy-cat protest on the heels of the idiotic and violent Salisbury riot did not help their cause whatsoever. These are jack of all trades masters of none wanting Government contracts to work slower than a bag of snails, to make a mess of the job and to stretch the projects out for months in an effort to milk the Government. The Labour Government is tired of throwing away much needed dollars down this wretched PWC hole. Send this unskilled pretenders back to their farms and have them do their protests there. Attempts to embarrass the blessed Labour Party Government about backpay has cooked your collective goose. Staff cuts will be expansive and swift. At least 95% of you lazy traitors and troublemakers will be returning to your farms. Good riddance!
****THE ROAD TO RECOVERY*******
“The government has said the PWC will be “restructured” and staff cut will be part of the plan”.
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First, end the practice of government officials subcontracting these jobs to there friends , families & themselves. Next ,analyze what jobs the PWC can expect on a frequent & reasonable basis. Then train the staff where need be.
This would put the PWC in a much better chance to financially sustain itself and survive.
Most likely, there will be no need to cancel anyone’s job unless they don’t want to work!!
-Thanks
while I agree some employees need to be blamed because they are lazy so when cutting be sure to cut of the ones who are of no use and then we will speak about projects. cant have an empty cylinder
Skerrit thinks DA belongs to him,but the longest rope has an end and his is closer than he thinks