Take away from me the noise of your songs to the melody of your harp. I will not listen, but let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. – Amos 5: 23-24.
WHEN I READ the SUNDAY SUN newspaper of June 5 with the headline: SSA Renting Tractor For $23 000 Weekly, I wondered if I was seeing right, and as a result I was forced to read the article three times with three different pairs of glasses for I just could not believe my eyes.
The report said that the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) has been renting a massiveD9R Caterpillar tractor crawler from a private contractor, while two of its own specialised pieces of equipment were garaged and a third had been “up and down” because of recurring mechanical problems.
It simply meant that the state would have spent about $1.2 million to rent this tractor in the past year. What a pity?
A very serious question must be asked, and that is, what is wrong with the mechanics at the SSA? I am sure that if it was the private sector that the disabled equipment would be on the road and working at the Mangrove Pond Landfill.
$23 000 too much
Since Government does not charge itself duties, the report said the SSA could have imported a brand new tractor from the manufacturers for between US$700 000 and$800 000. The authority’s acting general manager and the board need to let us know why they are still renting the tractor for $23 000 per week.
Another question that must be asked: Why is it that Government seems not to get its equipment to work properly? The hurtful thing is that if Government sells off the immobilised equipment, it will be bought by a private person or company and it will then work.
As a taxpayer, I am very worried about spending that type of money in rent when finance is very hard to come by.
I would like to see all those who are in management positions spend the taxpayers’ money like how they would spend their own, because$23 000 a week in rent is just too much.
Special services
There will be a series of special services at Hawthorn Memorial Methodist Church, Worthing, Christ Church, featuring Prophet Derrick Manning of New York, from Monday to Thursday next week at 7 p.m. each day.
Jazz In The Yard
The St Mary Church presents Jazz In The Yard – A Heritage Gala tomorrow, on the lawns of the St Mary Church, Bridgetown, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Patronal Festival The patronal festival of the St Philip-the-Less Church continues today with a mission service at 7:30. The preacher will be Canon Henderson Guy. The festival ends on Sunday with Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and evensong at 6 p.m.
St Barnabas celebration
The Church of St Barnabas’ patronal festival continues today with procession and solemn Eucharist at 7 p.m. Tomorrow will be the parish picnic to Bath, St John. Buses leave the church at 9 a.m. On Sunday, sung Eucharist will be at 8 a.m. and festal evening prayer and solemn Te Deum at 6 p.m.
Wine and cheese evening
The St Matthias Anglican Church is holding a wine and cheese evening on Saturday, June 18, at the Barbados Defence Clock Tower, Main Guard House, The Garrison, St Michael, from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.
Healing services
The Methodist Church’s Ebenezer Circuit will be holding four nights of healing and deliverance services from Sunday, June 19, to Wednesday, June 22. The ministering servant will be Prophet Derrick Manning. The Sunday service will be at 6 p.m. and weekday services from June 20to June 22 will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Beulah church.
St John rally
The St John Church Army will be holding a rally on Sunday, June 26, at 4 p.m. on the church grounds. The rally will begin with a march from The David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex, Glebe Land, St John.