Yesterday was my day off, so off I went to see my parents and who should I meet there but a cousin I hadn't seen for a loooooooong time. She didn't look very happy.
"What's wrong, habibti?"
"What's right?? This time things are really getting out of hand.
"As the long awaited pay day arrived on 27 June, we waited and waited – but the Headmaster didn't call for us. So we started complaining amongst ourselves and then were told maybe tomorrow.
"The next day came and went and no news of salaries. Never have I heard of such a thing, The Headmaster gathered us and told us that there would be no salary until there is word from the ministry; and until today we have not received our salaries – Never have I heard of such a thing happening before in Iraq – No money in the treasury for the employees' salaries!! Unheard of!
"Returning home I told my daughter to be ready to go to the bank the next day to receive her father's pension (he had passed away in 2005). And so off we went to the bank (state owned) – and were aghast when the employee told us that there was no money – the cash boxes were empty! And I don't know what to do – I'm desperate!"
I looked at my parents' faces and wished I had a camera to catch their expressions. "Mum, Dad, have you ever heard of such a thing happening before?" My father was employed by the government in 1943, my mum in 1946 directly after graduating from their respective colleges; they would know.
"Not even during the period following the nationalization of Iraqi oil operations (1971 – 1972) were governmental employees' salaries affected – and that was quite a critical time for all of Iraq."
No money in our King's coffers!
Why? Where is all the money going? Iraq has more money now than ever before with oil prices soaring to $140.
Where is all the money going?
Coming to work today I was not surprised to find one of the local newspapers quoting the minister of finance saying that "It is not our fault; the delay in the salaries comes as a result of incompetence in the ministries themselves" meaning that his ministry is competent…. But what about empty cash boxes in the banks?
As with the oil ministry who needs electricity for operations while the ministry of electricity needs fuel for its generators, catch 22 situations are becoming the norm in this free, democratic Iraq. And, of course, no one is to blame!
Isn't the US Federal Reserve serving as the custodian for the Iraqi government's revenues from the Iraq oil production? I recall reading that they were withholding 50 billion dollars from the Iraqi government unless the new basing agreement was ratified.
Posted by: Les | July 02, 2008 at 10:39 AM
who benefits from the chaos? when riots happen --when people are driven to protest--angry, hungry, exasperated, who will benefit from looking strong? i do not believe this is an accident or incompetence...it's part of the plan 2 keep the people preoccupied as well as occupied. cui bono?
i am so sorry. those of us not in chaos --please do what you can to fight this madness. Both with words of protest and materially (oxfam, doctors without borders, iraqi red crescent).
Posted by: Laura | July 01, 2008 at 01:15 PM