Vehicles and politicos

Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Taxes are never welcomed by anyone, but if they are “for the greater good,” then they must be respected by everyone. However, recent developments in Government have shown that tax increases introduced in March to reduce vehicle imports and bridge the trade deficit is not stopping politicians from stocking up their garages.

In a rather insensitive show, the Government on Tuesday submitted a supplementary estimate of Rs. 3.47 billion to purchase 52 vehicles for several ministries and statutory boards. The supplementary estimate also seeks Rs. 200 million for purchasing cars for Supreme Court and Appeal Court Judges and another Rs. 180 million to purchase vehicles for Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in New York, the Netherlands and Singapore.

While the list is rather exhaustive, it merits mention here for the Government has decided that many ministries should have vehicles despite consumers having to go without. The extensive list includes Rs. 8 million for a vehicle for Parliament, Rs. 6.4 m for the Private Passenger Service Ministry, Rs. 8 m for the Ports and Highways Ministry, Rs. 16.5 m for two vehicles for the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs and Rs. 8 m for the Ministry of Environment.

Rs. 23 million has been allocated for vehicles for Senior Ministers who render murky service to the country. Even the oft-bungling Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been given Rs. 3 million for a new vehicle. It is small wonder that such a list makes people feel unfairly dealt with, given that many people aspire to own a car or earn a living as three-wheeler drivers, only to see that on top of a grinding cost of living, they have to dismiss their dreams while politicians continue to reap benefits.

If the increased taxes were to bridge the trade deficit, then how is it that the policy does not apply to politicians? What happened to leading by example? Admittedly, that is a utopian ideal, but the Government is certainly not winning any fans with its double standards.

It is well known that most of the vehicles fall into the luxury category with Hummers and BMWs as well as flashy SUVs being the order of the day. The Treasury has estimated that vehicle imports would drop by as much as US$ 1 billion this year as thousands give up the chance to own a vehicle. If the public can’t, then why should politicians be any different? In the interests of fairness, the politicians should spend the full amount for their vehicles or go without as the people do.

In addition to the purchase of vehicles, the supplementary estimate seeks the approval of the House to obtain Rs. 2.5 billion to meet the shortfall of provisions on the capitalisation of SriLankan Airlines and restructuring Mihin Lanka Airline. Perhaps the latter company can be a study on throwing good money after bad since pragmatic good governance and management is not as actively promoted as requests for more public funds.

Vehicle permits for deserving public servants aside, the preferential treatment for politicians can be discouraging to the public which has elected the officials for everyone’s good and not only their own.