Satiricus was smiling. For the past couple of weeks, he’d been feeling the heat from the fellas on the Budget measures. Frankly he didn’t know why they were so upset about the VAT on electricity Bills over ,000, since they all had their meters “fixed” by GPL workers and never paid more than 00.
“Budday!! Wha’ mek me mus’ pay dem big, big ‘lectricity bill when me na get light half de time!!” protested Bungi.
“But you have to pay for what you use,” insisted Satiricus. “You can’t be a free loader.”
‘Suh how come ‘e OK fuh 18,000 houses in LinDon fuh be free loader?”
‘Those people poor, Bungi,” admonished Satiricus. “Have some sympathy, nuh.” At this point, Hari walked into the back street bar and took his seat at the table and ordered his beer. He seemed determined to catch up.
“Me pore too, Sato,” complained Bungi. “Ah only six week me wuk dis crap. Suh if me nah get free ‘lectricity, me guh t’ief am!”
“So why you complaining about the VAT on electricity, then?” demanded Satiricus. “It doesn’t affect you!”
“Well, de VAT guh mek mo people t’ief ’lectricity,” Bungi confessed. “An’ dem might ketch me! But wha mek yuh a smile all de time, Bai?”
“After two weeks of taking stick from you fellas on the Budget,” Satiricus looked at Hari meaningfully. “I finally have a chance to shut your mouths!”
“Bring it on, Sato!!” said Hari expansively. “What did your leaders Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat do this time on the Budget?”
“Yeah!” interjected Bungi enthusiastically with a grin. “Dem guh gi’e abee some a de fancy likka dem does drink??”
“Better than that!” promised Satiricus. “It was revealed in the budget summary that two Ministers applied like ordinary persons for scholarships of $3M each! Can you believe that??!!”
“Like ordinary people, eh?” asked Hari with his eyebrows touching his hairline. “And who signed off on the scholarships?”
“Well, some other Minister, “said Satiricus impatiently. “But imagine they didn’t request any special favours.”
Both Bungi and Hari looked closely at Satiricus. “Leh abee drink to all dem humble Ministah!! Me nah know wha abee guh do widout dem!”said Bungi with a wink to Hari.
