On the eve of the parliamentary debate into the government’s handling of the various catastrophes prompted by recent storms, PS Socialists have stressed that promised financial support is not reaching the people who need it.
Television stations have already discovered scores of people STILL living without electricity in their homes (today’s count is that there remain 7,600 households in this predicament over three weeks since Storm Kristin devastated swathes of the central region). Many of those interviewed have confirmed that ‘no-one’ has come to check on them; give them any information or show any form of concern.
Now, the PS is accusing the government of “failing in its support” of affected populations – and withdrawing the advantages of the situation of calamity far too soon. The PS argues that a situation of calamity should remain in place until June – and in more municipalities than the 68 initially covered.
A draft resolution presented by PS secretary-general José Luís Carneiro today proposes that the situation of calamity be established “until June 30, with subsequent reassessment for possible extension until September 30”, as well as “expanding its scope to other municipalities that have already requested the declaration for objective reasons relating to the damage they have suffered.”
In a press conference in which he presented the PS’ point of view, José Luís Carneiro said that, among other measures, his party recommends that the government create a support programme to recover businesses and allow them to maintain their labour force. As opposed to the supports already announced (credit lines), PS Socialists want “non-refundable support” and up to “three minimum salaries for each worker” who finds him or herself unable to work due to the destruction, of non-functioning, of a workplace.
The PS is also pushing for simplified lay off that does not reduce workers’ salaries (as the current programme introduced by the government does) – and a programme to help families rebuild their homes.
All this is setting the scene for the debate tomorrow which will be the first ‘open discussion’ in parliament of the government’s performance so far.
Source material: SIC
