July 15, 2012Dear Sir,It’s sort of ironic that the OBA seem to be basing their latest salvo around the scare tactic that Government has run out of money and cannot maintain the infrastructure of this Country. They have used as prime examples; the buses, the ferries, the roads. When the facts emerge a few things are glaringly obvious;The civil servants are the ones who maintain the infrastructure.The civil servants are the ones who decide which items get attention and when.So is the OBA really prepared to continue this onslaught of the Civil Service? If the OBA’s contention is that there is no money to fix these items, then let’s look at where 50-60 percent of Government’s money is going.Not being a forensic accountant, but would it be safe to say that most of government coffers go towards paying the Civil Service? Is that not what the OBA have been complaining about all this time, the size of government?So let’s put it in context, the OBA is calling the Civil Service incompetent for not maintaining the infrastructure and blaming the PLP for putting too much funds towards employing the same Civil Service.Let’s look at what OBA MP Bob Richards has to say. He says the expanding Civil Service under the Progressive Labour Party has contributed to the Island’s financial troubles, with an extra 1,000 civil servants adding up to an extra $75 million a year running costs for Government. “It’s a big additional burden on the taxpayers, you can never get these things under control if you continue to allow the Civil Service to swell the way it has swelled under the PLP.” Royal Gazette, August 17,2011“It really has to be all about austerity, and that’s not something Government is going to want to talk about because it’s never popular, but it’s about saving so when times improve we have some purse power.” Bob Richards, Royal Gazette, December 10, 2010.We know by their statements the OBA doesn’t respect civil servants, will attack the Government’s efforts preserve job security, while raising efficiency. The OBA has no problem with using private medical information of civil servants for naked political gain. They seem to be interested in promoting fear and submission rather than fellowship and solidarity. The actions of the OBA have been a lot more clear than their words. You be the judge.Stand Strong Family.CHRISTOPHER FAMOUS