Chairperson, we will support the Budget Vote but it would be remiss of us if we failed to point out that the current round of salary negotiations for the Public Service was poorly managed by the government. It must have been patently clear from the outset that the original offer was insufficient and downright miserly and that consequently it would be rejected outright by the representatives of the employees. Government should have made a better offer from the outset. Instead, we have seen the country being plunged into an unnecessary and costly strike action that could have been avoided.
It is worth remembering that every reasonable taxpayer agrees that our teachers and nurses are receiving pittances and would happily endorse paying them better. I thank you.