Thank you Singapore

Assistance for the Christchurch Earthquake Disaster - source NZ Herald

At times like these it's good to have friends; thank you Singapore and all other countries who are assisting our rescue effort.

Sumner - the suburb where we once lived

'Quake

The Press Building (1909) now completely destroyed

It is just 24 hours since a second and more devastating earthquake struck Christchurch.  The most horrific revelation in its aftermath has been the loss of life; 75 and climbing.

People are still being pulled alive from collapsed buildings and our small nation is in shock that this could happen not once, but twice, to the Garden City.

As I watch the 24 hour coverage from the safety of my lounge in Auckland I realise also that the city of my childhood and later memories will never exist again as I knew it.

My father came from the suburb of Cashmere in Christchurch, and lived just down from the Sign of the Takahe at 118 Dyers Pass Road.

He attended Christchurch Boy's High School and was passionate about the city and its environment even though he lived most of his adult life elsewhere.

Fond memories of walking hand in hand with my grandfather past the Press Building and the Cathedral in the Square are all that remain today, as both buildings have been irreparably damaged and will never be rebuilt.

The heritage heart of the city is gone - the old Provincial Chambers are partially demolished and aerial views of other sites shows a state of total collapse.

Cathedral Square in 1960 - the spire (circled) came down during the 23 February 'quake

Where trams once rattled through in the late 1950's and newspaper men called from street corners, there is now only dust and vehicles flattened by falling masonry.

Cathedral Square in 1957 - buses not trams, which I used to take to my grandparents house in Cashmere Hills

In the early 1980's when I returned from Papua New Guinea I went to live in Christchurch in the small suburb of Sumner.

This is the same suburb that now features in mobile phone video of falling boulders from the surrounding cliff faces.  Goodness only knows the state of properties on Scarborough Hill where we had a house and which overlooks Sumner Beach?

But of course property can be replaced and lives cannot.  It will be many years before the city recovers but recover it will, as Cantabrians are a stoic bunch and the rest of the country is behind them helping wherever we can.

Related articles

• Christchurch earthquake: what is behind the quake? (telegraph.co.uk)
• Google App to help locate people in Christchurch quake (boingboing.net)
• Ground slips 1 metre as quake pummels Christchurch (newscientist.com)
• VIDEO: First look inside quake-hit cathedral (bbc.co.uk)
• Christchurch earthquake: Britons tell of chaos in New Zealand city (telegraph.co.uk)
• Christchurch earthquake: at least 65 dead and 100 trapped in 'darkest day' (guardian.co.uk)
• Photos Of New Zealand In Ruins After Massive Quake (huffingtonpost.com)

What is a politician worth?

This chart from CNN makes an interesting comparisson between the leaders' salaries in the Asia Pacific region. (Click on the chart to see the larger version).

* The President of South Korea has pledged his entire salary to the underpriveleged

According to unsubstantiated reports Singapore politicians hold the top thirty places on the world's pay scale for politicians:

1. Elected President SR Nathan – S$3.9 million.
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – S$3.8 million.
3. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew – S$3.5 million.
4. Senior Minister Goh Chok Thong – S$3.5 million.
5. Senior Minister Prof Jayakumar – S$3.2 million.
6. DPM & Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng – S$2.9 million.
7. DPM & Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean – $2.9 million
8. Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo – S$2.8 million.
9. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan – S$2.7 million.
10. PMO Miniser Lim Boon Heng – S$2.7 million.
11. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang – S$2.7 million.
12. PMO Minister Lim Swee Say – S$2.6 million.
13. Environment Minister & Muslim Affairs Minister Dr Yaccob Ibrahim – S$2.6 million.
14. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan – S$2.6 million.
15. Finance Minister S Tharman – S$2.6 million.
16. Education Minister & 2nd Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen – S$2.6 million.
17. Community Development Youth and Sports Minister – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – S$2.5 million.
18. Transport Minister & 2nd Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim Siang Kiat – S$2.5 million.
19. Law Minister & 2nd Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam – S$2.4 million.
20. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong – S$2.2 million.
21. PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hwa – S$2.2 million
22. Acting ICA Minister – Lui Tuck Yew – S$2.0 million.
23 to 30 = Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State – each getting between S$1.8 million to S$1.5 million.

The Singapore government would argue that to get if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Looking at some of the 'monkeys' we have had in NZ under the MMP system and the money we have paid in salaries and benefits, the Singaporeans may have a point. 

That said, the above list would seem rather excessive in remuneration in these recessionary times, if proven to be accurate?

All of this has been put into sharper focus with the release of the 2011 budget which the Singapore government hopes will bridge the wealth gap.

Related articles

• Stagnant wages, immigration fuel Singapore squeeze (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Wealth gap (bbc.co.uk)
• Singapore to Spend S$6.6 Billion as Elections Loom (businessweek.com)