| Streips un Šlesers |
[15. Jan 2009|11:19] |
Kārlis Streips: Wikipedia, that great paragon of 21st-century knowledge, defines "banana republic" thus: "A small country that is politically unstable, dependent on limited agriculture, and ruled by a small, self-elected, wealthy, and corrupt clique."
Take Latvia's transport minister - please! Here's a little test. The qualification needed to become the latest person appointed by the minister to the board of the state-run Passenger Train Company, with a salary of 4,000 lats a month, is which of the following:
A) A university degree in transport and six years of experience with the railroad industry;
B) Extensive experience on company boards with a proven track record;
С) Being the son of the transportation minister's former chauffeur.
If you guessed "C," then you know all about how Latvia "works." In fact, seven of the nine people who are on the board and council of the aforementioned company are directly linked either to the transportation minister or to the political party of which he is grand poobah. Is there anyone to put an end to such outrageous nonsense? Alas, no. The prime minister, who has said that he will have no comment on the appointment of a former chauffeur's son to a high-paying quasi-job, is the other grand poobah in the same party He and the transportation minister are co-poobahs. That's why the train company is being run not only by the former chauffeur's son, but also by the transportation minister's press secretary ... who does not even have a university education. Come to think of it, neither does the transportation minister. Not a coincidence. |
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| Date: | 15. Janvāris 2009 - 12:10 |
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