From Brendan Brady.
Within minutes of opening the JEP on 16 February I was in total shock and disgust.
First was the revelation that we have a hospital chief, again from the UK where they get it so right (I don’t think so) on a monthly salary of £26,000 (later corrected to £18,000).

Our wonderful Health Minister defended this payment, stating that he works 12 to 14 hours a day and he has allegedly saved the hospital £600,000. I ask myself – are there any other people who work 12 to 14 hours a day? I know of many who take home a pittance of the salary that is paid to this man.

I also add that for ten per cent of what he earns, I could have saved the same amount of money by clearing out the top public sector wage earners who claim massive salaries and attend meetings all day with folders under their arms, trying to look like they are busy. It is a well-known fact in most States departments – ask any lower-paid employee and they will tell you who they are.

Now, because this letter is late in publication and the figures are now changed, may I just add that one could ask if the real figure has been massaged to fit the situation. Because of the vast outcry about the salary in question, has it now been converted to the actual wage of £216,000 a year, but with the bill for staying at the Grand Hotel sneaked through the books as a different expense? Or am I just being a little too mistrusting?

My second shock was the heading: ‘£450 per day paid to Airport advisers “reflects expertise”.’ I would love to be paid £450 to £650 a day for 40 days of the year! – great! But what do they actually do? What is Frank Walker’s so called expertise in this area? When were these positions open so that others could apply?

Is it the same old Jersey way, once in the top of the States pile you are well looked after?

In summary, it is the same old case of look after the already rich, give them more plum positions and if there are none, let’s make one up so that they can have one. Forget the real people who live here and struggle every day to survive on what others say is a fair salary. Tell me what is fair about what has been revealed above. It is not fair at all, just another shocking disgrace as to where this Island is going.

The hard-working everyday people who keep this Island afloat get trodden deeper into the mud every day while the upper ‘we know best’ climb over everyone to take home disgraceful salaries, in a time when many people can’t even afford to put their heating on when it is cold.

I feel ashamed at being a part of this totally greedy self-centred society we have to live in. Worst of all, to survive we have to try to join the rat race, or be completely destroyed.