http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,5562,314498,00.html?
[
b]May 1, 2005
WP: Don't forget workers' sacrifices [/b]
THE PAP Government has been 'painting a rosy picture' of Singapore's economy, but it shouldn't forget workers' sacrifices, the Workers' Party (WP) said yesterday.
In its May Day message released to the media, the opposition party called on the Government to bring down the high living costs.http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,5562,314509,00.html?
May 1, 2005
TOP OF THE NEWS
Don't worry, the outlook is good: PM
By Leslie Koh
ANXIOUS about the economy? It's understandable but unnecessary. The outlook for Singapore and the region is positive.
So says Mr Lee Hsien Loong in his May Day message to Singaporeans, his first as Prime Minister.The New Paper - 07 Mar 2005
LET ME SELL MY TISSUES
He knows it's illegal, but this elderly man says it's the only way he can eke out a living. Will the authorities sniff at his plight?
By Jaclyn Lim
[email protected]He knows that what he's doing is illegal (see report, right) but he sees no other way.
And he wonders aloud:
'Why can't the authorities relax the laws on my trade?'Mr Goh Siang Leng, 63, suffers from glaucoma, a condition when increased pressure within the eyeball creates gradual loss of sight. He is now 95 per cent blind.
With no family to fall back on, he said that another reason he prefers to sell tissue is that he enjoys the daily interaction with people on the streets. But
the authorities have warned him to stop.The National Environment Agency (NEA) refused to comment on whether laws will be relaxed.My take on all these issues/news ? Singapore may not be like New York or other cities where you can see beggars on the streets.
It's just not possible-Under the destitute persons act in sg ,it is stated:
Penalty for begging.
4. —(1) Any person being a habitual beggar found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or to be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. So , with this act imposed , it is ez for the gahmen to "remove" any beggars on the streets- It is embarassing for the gahmen and an testament that they have failed to improve the living standards of the local people.
But then, with all that woo-haa about "positive forecast" for 2005, we have tissue-sellers on the streets who are living in poor conditions too similiar to beggars,struggling to ekk thru an living.....Is Singapore really that well-managed as the gahmen would like to show ? Have they really removed poverty out of Singapore ?
