Pulling the plug on parties

There may be symbolic value to the Golding administration's barring of state-funding for Christmas parties by government ministries and their agencies. It suggests fiscal responsibility.

We wonder, though, about the cost of such Christmas parties - minuscule, most likely - in the context of the real waste and graft in the public sector and the failure of the administration to implement fundamental cost-saving measures.

Here is one: public servants should be part of a defined contribution pension scheme in which they meet part of the cost.

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