We now hear from our prime minister that there will be a drastic reduction in the size of the public sector next fiscal year. As many as 10,000 workers will join the list of the jobless. It's a little bit disingenuous though that a position was created for a private-sector man, Christopher Zacca, in the Office of the PM to be the czar in charge of fast- tracking this process.

This is the second individual to leave one of Butch Stewart's entities to join the public sector following on the heels of John Lynch who heads the Jamaica Tourist Board. Stewart has turned out to be very patriotic and extraordinarily helpful to this administration by releasing his two top lieutenants. I suspect that this appointment might be another loan arrangement whereby Zacca will return to the private sector as was the case with Don Wehby from GraceKennedy.

What is the compensation package of Zacca now that he is a part of the public sector? The Government has set a precedent by paying Danville Walker, the incumbent commissioner of customs, $8 million per annum, the same as his previous salary as director of elections. The compensation package for that position up to then was approximately $4 million. This was after the gentleman resigned as the director of elections amid controversy over his role in the dual-citizenship cases and applied for a new job at Customs.

There must be capable and qualified persons in the Ministry of Labour in tandem with the finance ministry who could spearhead this potentially explosive operation. Why employ someone to cut staff with little or no knowledge of the public sector?

I am, etc.,

AULIE STERLING

aulie29@hotmail.com

Montego Bay

St James