My humble request to all newly elected mayors and councilors:
Please make it your first priority to prepare your cities and constituencies for the difficult times ahead.
We are heading into a period where the cost of living will rise sharply. A decline in tourist arrivals will impact resort operations, leading to unpaid leave or job losses for many workers. Businesses that depend on resorts-supply chain, transport providers, and service operators, will see significant drops in income. Same goes to those who depend on local tourism at the Islands. At the same time, rising oil prices will drive up the cost of everything.
This means we will soon be facing a double burden: decreasing incomes and increasing living costs.
Each city and constituency will experience this slightly differently. That is why your first step in office should be to establish a dedicated task force. Bring in professionals to assess local conditions, study the vulnerabilities of your communities, and advise on practical, evidence-based measures to prepare for a worst-case scenario. Meantime also coordinate with resorts in your constituency for technical and resource support.
Please begin promoting financial awareness and preparedness among your constituents immediately. Encourage saving, responsible spending, and community-level resilience starting now.
Please do not rely solely on the central government to manage this. We have seen before what happens when preparedness is lacking. During COVID, MDP central Gov were not adequately prepared for the worst-case scenario, and many of the consequences were avoidable.
At present, the PNC government does not appear fully focused on the scale of the risk ahead. But regardless of that, do not shift responsibility upward. Whether or not action comes from the center, make sure you act.
Please do more than the bare minimum this time.
@adamazim@DhekunuNizar
( plx tag the rest )
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