SMSes for Tues 6 Jan 09

* THE GRN education system will continue to create dependency syndrome because the emphasis is on reading and writing, not on detailed sciences, craftmanship, nature as well as rural and urban survival life skills. We’ll produce the same results as Zimbabwe with an educated population unable to capitalise on opportunities in their own backyard but instead still blaming the colonisers. Shame on Namibia for failing to give the youth free, quality education as stipulated in our constitution. We must break new ground in education and not just follow Cape, Cambridge or Oxford education systems with no consideration of our own situation. No wonder top GRN officials don’t send their children to the Government schools they propagate for the nation.

* THOSE who are defending big families with many children – think again. With the collapse of the extended family structure, the ever-worsening economic climate and many more adverse factors, having children by the dozen is disastrous to the very same children. Be realistic, not emotional. Poverty is no joke.

Food for thought

* WOOLWORTHS please ensure that client contact details are updated. I was recently shocked when I was told that it is the clients’ duty to do so. Even if this was entirely correct the store stands to lose when dealing with dishonest clients. You need to be able to trace that person in case s/he does not pay. You can also put a note on your system to request updated details, when they buy. Relying on a person’s 10-year-old record of creditworthiness, salary, contact details, etc, is a major weakness in terms of debt collection. People can also lose jobs in the meantime, but you even increase their credit limit, like you did with me. When others don’t pay I guess the remaining ones have to pay up through increased interest rates. We don’t want that!

* WHEN we get our monthly salaries tax and pension are deducted every month and with our bonuses double tax is deducted, not double pension. What I don’t understand is why our pension payouts on resignation are also TAXED. The whole taxation law must be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

* WHAT is wrong with the world’s scientists? HIV has been researched for two decades but they have failed to find a meaningful cure for it. Or is it a case of ensuring that research grants continue to flow and pharmaceutical companies enrich themselves by rather selling retroviral drugs, and in the mean time human suffering continues. Some thing big is wrong some where! And God is watching.

Politicians’ salaries

* THE salary hike for top office bearers should not be accepted by civil servants in this country. Make your voices heard, strike and if it is not enough vote the Government out in the coming elections. Let us unite irrespective of political affiliation. Enough is enough. – Likanyuna

* 24% salary increment for MPs? what about public servants? Remember that the cost of living is biting us more than those guys.

* IT is shameful to see President Pohamba approving a 24% increment for political office bearers, while the public servants receive peanuts. The Swapo Government has lost it. My fellow civil servants let’s show our disappointment. Its time we stand up and fight this or come election let all boycott to go and vote. Napwu is useless!

* SALARY increases for politicians: I couldn’t believe to hear that the reason for the increase was the high inflation rate! Why is it that when it comes to the MPs’ own salaries they are all positive, but when it comes to civil servants they say the Government has no money, yet they keep on widening the gap between the rich and the poor.

* MPs’ salaries increase? Not true – it is the joke of the year.

Politics

* WHAT is the position of NSHR on the Gaza crisis?

* IGNORANT politicians in Eenhana must not confuse year-end parties and politics. We want to get together and get to know each other, not to discuss politics.

* DIESCHO is not insulting the leaders, but educating them.

Education

* TO the Ministry of Education: I am not sure that you know that SI Gobs SSS in Omaruru has increased its school fees. As I understand Government schools are not allowed to increase school fees just like that. This school is educating the children of poor farmers in the district, who cannot afford exorbitant fees.

* IF the Government subsidises private schools more of us would be able to afford to enrol our children at these institutions – not only the very rich. This will also alleviate pressure on the overcrowded public schools.

* CAN the Government do something either to make arts a promotional subject or it must be a minor, because we as arts major students have difficulties with the subject.

* I AM worried about the standard of education at Mafwila Senior Secondary School. The results were very poor because young teachers who were producing good results over the past two years have left the school because of management style of the principal.

* THE Nyangana Combined School is the oldest school in the Kavango Region. It is going to celebrate its centennial existence within three years. The Director of Education is hereby humbly yet urgently requested to see to it that this school be upgraded to senior secondary level.

From the regions

* I find this funny indeed. The Erongo Deputy Police Commissioner is calling for co-operation from members of the public in identifying and reporting criminals, yet when he has caught these criminals, he makes sure that the public does not see the faces of these criminals. How then can we know and recognise them?

* TAXI operators in Katima are charging N$10. Especially those going to the Wenela border. Is this the new rate or discrimination against foreigners?

* THE Town Council of Opuwo, can you plant trees along the big plain, where the wind blows consistently. Opuwo is very dusty.

* CONSUMERS are buying electricity from Nored in Katima at N$10 for 10.8 units. I consider this very high compared to other regions.

* WE would like to see improvements to the roads at Oshakati. The roads are very bad and damaging our vehicles. The very bad road is the one to the Oshakati Customs Offices. During the rainy season, there is little or no access to Customs Offices. As a result, goods are being delayed because transport companies and the importers do not manage to take declarations to Customs on time. The same road is used by Woermann Brock as a receiving area. Sometimes Woermann Brock trucks are parked on the road leading to Customs. This results on other road users not having access to Oshakati Customs. The canal next to this road is also dangerous to visitors and other taxpayers who are not familiar with the road. Municipality of Oshakati must be serious with development and not just waste money on Christmas party. The Minister of Finance should also be aware about this issue. This is a serious issue and Namibian people who are good in town planning should advice Oshakati Town Council on this.

General

* OMAHEKE police promotions – what a fake. Only those close to top commanders are said to have been promoted. Some officers were promoted while only serving in for force for up to three years. What about those, who have been in the force for ten years in the region? What is happening? My little sister will join the force this year and I believe she will be promoted before those long-serving officers.

* ACC please investigate Nampol VIP Division. How can you promote a member who is not even one year in the force from constable to sergeant? Although her rank was sent back so that it could be returned to her once she qualifies, is it fair to long-serving members, who have been ignored?

* 2009 is the year for change. Police and NDF must also change their recruitment. People living with HIV are also normal people just like others. I want all the people, even HIV-positive ones, to be enlisted in the uniformed services.

* I MUST raise my dismay with the manner in which the control prosecutor at Katutura Magistrate’s Court conducts his official duties. The gentleman nev
er honours his appointments and it is very difficult for you to find him after 14h00. We need someone with integrity and who is honest to deal with us. We are not asking for favours, but should be placed in a position to exercise our rights.

* THE so-called war-veteran children must stop crying of hunger. Nobody sent them there. I also want a job but can’t move away into the bush for a job. We children of non-war veterans should also be considered.

* DOCTOR Shangula can you please retire before you cause damage to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Stop favouritism and dividing the staff. Leave us in peace, don’t divide us.

* A CONTRACT company employs casual labourers on behalf of Woermann Brock Swakopmund. This company is privately run. During holidays many children, most of them from financially unstable families and those living in poverty, worked for the holiday through this company at WB. According to them their salaries were not paid at the agreed rate of N$6,50 per hour. Can the Ministries dealing with labour issues and human rights organisations look into this matter. These children did holiday jobs in order to be able to buy what they need for the school.

* ONE Africa TV you are not trying anymore – I mean weekends. I can remember when we watched three movies on weekends – two movies and one series (Lonesome Dove). But, these days there is nothing, only Setana sports. Please try again. You are losing viewers.

* NBC please stop repeating movies! It’s unfortunate we are not able to afford DStv. Is this our punishment?

* WE the Ceremonial Battalion of the NDF are being sent to go missions without getting any S&T money and are expected to use our own pocket money, while the other group from the Ministry get their cheques before leaving for the mission same mission. In December, we went on two missions but have not been paid to date. Please ACC investigation the Ministry of Defence.

Bouquets And Brickbats

* THUMBS up to Oshakati Pharmacy. They have cubicles where pharmacists explain how to patients how to use their prescriptions. This is good for privacy and confidentiality of patients. I advise that all pharmacies follow suit.

* I WOULD like to thank the Chief Control Officer for Guinas Constituency for his good deed for buying out of his pocket a coffin for a San baby who could have been buried in a blanket or body bag. May God bless him. The San community at Oshivelo thank you and wish you well in your job and for caring for your nation.

* STANDARD Bank’s customer service is a complete joke. It is not the customers’ fault that you implement the worst-ever-managed project. YOU should accept responsibility for the credit card farce and assist your customers with a smile.