This letter is in response to the letter of the day written by Bryan Lynch and published on Friday, August 21.

First let me say that the government owes the public sector. The money that the teachers, police or any other public sector group is demanding is a right, not a privilege. Hence, they have a right under whatever the circumstances to demand it. The fact that no money is there is no secret but the high-handedness and bullying attitude that the Government has adopted, is no secret either.

Before the writer begins to quarrel with the teachers and the police he should realise who has a credibility problem here. Who was dishonest enough to enter contracts that they knew they would not be in a position to honour and, on top of it, was very disrespectful to their workers. The Government has no money, so what is to prevent teachers from locking down schools in September? I hope the Government will now be forced to use respectful dialogue and be honest in negotiations with its employees.

What the Government fails to understand is that it is not a political problem and no politician should unilaterally decide how we are going to approach the problem. I believe proper dialogue with the various groups could have easily tempered the situation.

It makes a big difference between when you force someone to solve a problem your way and when you make someone feel like they are a part of the solution.

It is clear that the money teachers, police, nurses and other public sector groups are demanding is not there, if the Government does not have any money, at least, it should be honest about it, while showing people respect.

I am, etc.,

Roderick Williams

wllmsroderick@yahoo.com