A SELECT GROUP seems either to have been duped, or are bent on bringing massa back to reclaim our fields and hills.
Information reaching Cou Cou is that this group is pushing the idea of selling off a major ailing industry to a United States-based party whose parent is really the old massa in new clothes.
From what we have been able to gather, the industry is in dire need of financial assistance to keep it alive.
However, though funding has been sourced by those responsible for this industry, they have not yet received approval to go ahead although the documentation for the deal was prepared months ago.
We understand the delay relates to the influence of the select group who have also sourced funding and are touting their arrangements as the better sugar sweet deal. Since then everything has been at a standstill while the matter is, apparently, being reviewed – which is the right thing to do in uncertain circumstances.
But in doing due diligence, it became crystal clear that the company which the select group is ready to do business with is really owned by another organisation that is itself controlled by the new-look massa.
The questions now being asked are, which offer on the table would be decided on, and will that decision come in time to save the ailing industry?
Big-up no role model
RECENT REMINDERS SENT to civil servants that, essentially, they need to do more to cut costs and will have to double up or triple up at times, since no one would be hired to work for those who go on short-term leave, has some in a particular ministry up in arms.
But it isn’t that these workers don’t want to work. Rather, they are upset over the wastage they see taking place in their ministry by some of the same folk who are loudly talking about doing more to cut costs.
One of them told Cou Cou that a certain big-up actually ordered lounge chairs for his office to ensure his guests would be more comfortable.
“What message is that sending?” the veteran civil servant asked.
The individual claimed that this same big-up has driven four different vehicles, which are all reportedly his, to that office and acts like one who “has arrived”.
This behaviour, said the civil servant, does not endear itself to them especially given that they have not had a salary increase in years, are struggling with an increased cost of living and are repeatedly reading or hearing in the media a Cabinet minister chastising their work ethic.
As far as this civil servant is concerned, those pushing cost cuts in ministries should set the example by being less audacious in what they do.
The individual argued that such a move would encourage most civil servants to make a greater effort to assist the national effort.
Families losing homes
A NUMBER of middle-income homeowners are complaining that they are facing terror from a certain financial institution.
It seems it is foreclosing on properties with callous efficiency and the officer in charge is usually cold and matter-of-fact in dealing with homeowners who now find themselves unable to pay their mortgage.
But even worse than this officer’s attitude is the fact that the people valuing the property to be sold are undervaluing it. That is, properties valued at $1 million, for example, could be assessed as being worth no more than $600 000.
From what Cou Cou has been told, because of this people are losing everything. It has also caused the break-up of some families.
One desperate homeowner facing this dilemma told Cou Cou that, thankfully, not all of the financial institutions are behaving like this, but the particular one spoken of here is creating havoc.