Carrot-Stick Stick-Carrot.

[A-Four]

Its a few years ago now, but some will remember during the final days of the Mubarak era, I wrote on here about how the president and the IMF had come to an agreement for a huge loan from Madam LaGarde's gang. One of the conditions was that the civil service would not get a pay rise for five years, but could get a interest free loan for that period, however if they left the service the loan had to be paid in full. Another condition was that the property tax had to be enforced immediately, needless to say all failed.

I have had a quick look at the finances and state of play in Egypt, and although I don't wish to bore you with the details, they are in a real mess. Over the past six months, tax receipts are down by 14%, production has fallen through the floor, as for import/exports balance, this is a total disaster. The nations income was LE 187 BILION, however its outgoings was LE 337 BILLION. The official excuse for this has been called 'exceptional circumstances'.

Here in Europe, we are told that many of us will now have to wait until we are 67 years old before we can obtain the state pension. It was announced in Cairo at the week-end by the Finance Minister that the retirement age for the civil service will be reduced from 60 to 55. He did not mention what the pay rises will be for the next five years.

P.S. - B.P. and British Gas will soon announce a $15 BILLION contract with Egypt though this is being hushed until the big conference in Sharm this week, where Egypt hope to sign contacts with other countries for up to $60 BILLION,........we shall see.

[Glyphdoctor]

Property tax bills have started to be issued in the last few weeks in Luxor. Needless to say, they are far far less than the inflated numbers a member of this forum was quoted, and people who own only one home are getting the bill dismissed entirely with a simple form filed.

As for retirement age, that is interesting as 3 years ago the retirement age was scheduled to go up to 65 for new hires.

[BENNU]

Here in Europe, we are told that many of us will now have to wait until we are 67 years old before we can obtain the state pension.

Depending on when you were born, retirement age in Denmark will be 65-70 1/2.

[A-Four]

I am a little surprised by your above comment here Bennu, as I have always believed the Nordic countries have an excellent social services, and if I was paying up to 50% of my salary in tax, I would expect a more generous state pension. Next week I am on a two week tour of Norway, I am informed that I will be expected to pay £16 for a sandwich,........oh boy.

Here in the U.K., we pay tax and also a National Insurance scheme which is compulsory thoughout ones working life, then to be told the government has changed the rules,.........anywhere else they would riot in the streets, but not here in dear old Britain.

[BENNU]

I am a little surprised by your above comment here Bennu, as I have always believed the Nordic countries have an excellent social services, and if I was paying up to 50% of my salary in tax, I would expect a more generous state pension. Next week I am on a two week tour of Norway, I am informed that I will be expected to pay £16 for a sandwich,........oh boy.

Here in the U.K., we pay tax and also a National Insurance scheme which is compulsory thoughout ones working life, then to be told the government has changed the rules,.........anywhere else they would riot in the streets, but not here in dear old Britain.

Unlike Egypt, we live longer and have less children, so there will not be enough members of the work force to support the older generations in the future - without immigrants, we would be lost.

In an average cafe in Oslo, a simple sandwich, burger OR salad will cost no more than £11-12 with the current exchange rate, so do not worry, but (as if anyone needed to tell you) do not forget to shop duty free from home.

[A-Four]

Sorry for my ignorance here Bennu, you stress good points.

However, with regards the old duty free, I am for the first time travelling by sea on one of those P&O things out of Southampton England, and l understand they do not allow you to take booze on board, therefore those 500ml shampoo bottles l have will come in very useful. .

I have also discovered that should l choose to go on one of those dog sledges in the Arctic Circle for three hours inc dinner, God knows what, I can do it for the 'bargain price' of £350. Just one of the very exciting attractions P&O Cruises want to offer me as an 'extra'. Will I be doing that,.........I think not.

Interesting, there is a total eclipse in the Faroe Islands on 20th March, that l shall probably witness, why am l telling you all this you might ask, well, from what l understand a partial will be seen, so l'm told, in Luxor. Here I think we might need our friend Brian, Brian Yare that is, to ensure I am correct or otherwise,..........let us know Brian.

[BENNU]

By THE CAIRO POST

CAIRO: Two different astronomical phenomena to take place in March 20 according to Youm7; with both a both a solar eclipse and a supermoon scheduled to happen on the same day, March 20.

Ashraf Tadras, astronomy department head in the National Institute for Astronomical Sciences affiliated to Ministry of Scientific Research, said in statements to Youm7 that the eclipse, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, will occur during the spring equinox, when the day and night are the same length.

The eclipse is going to take place in Egypt from 11: 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m, and Tadras advised all spectators to avoid looking directly at the sun..

The supermoon describes a point during the orbit of the moon when it is the closest to earth, and appears the largest when viewed from earth, and will take place on March 20.

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/138526 ... e-in-march

[A-Four]

There you Bennu, even though most on here say that A-Four is all washed up, there again l am of use to now and the future to some. .

Just in case no one else on here thanks you for your research here Bennu. (you know what they are like on here) I do, God bless you.

[A-Four]

News has come to my ears this morning that a new benzine shortage is about to hit the whole of Egypt very soon, so those of you who have vehicles should top-up immediately.

I should also mention there is a new price hike on its way at the end of March.

[Brian Yare]

Interesting, there is a total eclipse in the Faroe Islands on 20th March, that l shall probably witness, why am l telling you all this you might ask, well, from what l understand a partial will be seen, so l'm told, in Luxor. Here I think we might need our friend Brian, Brian Yare that is, to ensure I am correct or otherwise,..........let us know Brian.

I have opened a separate thread to discuss this.

[Dusak]

News has come to my ears this morning that a new benzine shortage is about to hit the whole of Egypt very soon, so those of you who have vehicles should top-up immediately.

I should also mention there is a new price hike on its way at the end of March.

According to my driver there was a shortage on Monday and the cost of petrol has just gone up. They are on about putting the local bus fares up to a pound due to this fact.

[A-Four]

News has come to my ears this morning that a new benzine shortage is about to hit the whole of Egypt very soon, so those of you who have vehicles should top-up immediately.

I should also mention there is a new price hike on its way at the end of March.

According to my driver there was a shortage on Monday and the cost of petrol has just gone up. They are on about putting the local bus fares up to a pound due to this fact.

Oh, 'you ain't seen nothing yet',................remember, I did say end of March.

[A-Four]

News has come to my ears this morning that a new benzine shortage is about to hit the whole of Egypt very soon, so those of you who have vehicles should top-up immediately.

I should also mention there is a new price hike on its way at the end of March.

According to my driver there was a shortage on Monday and the cost of petrol has just gone up. They are on about putting the local bus fares up to a pound due to this fact.

Oh, 'you ain't seen nothing yet',................remember, I did say end of March.

They were supposed to have increased benzine price at the end of March, however it seems they have held back until the announcement of the annual budget in July for year 2015/2016, but it has been leaked out that fuel subsidy will be reduced by 10%.

Soon it will be like the U.K., if there is four of you travelling it would be cheaper to get a taxi than a bus in Luxor.

[Glyphdoctor]

"Leaked"? As in announced publicly in the newspapers? I do understand why people here get annoyed about your attempts to look more in the know than you are.

[A-Four]

If a government announces it annual budget on lst July each year, and we discover part of it gets revealed to the press, then this tells us FOUR things 1) Fuel prices are to increase dramatically. 2) The general public should expect other equally sharp increases elsewhere.3) It seems most likely that if such leaks are being made available, then it is obvious that there is serious resentment within Sisi's 'national emergency administration'. 4) It becomes even more evident that no candidate will put his or her name forward for a future government while such massive increases to inflation are being enacted.

Being that you Glyphdoctor, have been on one of your regular holidays from this site, I thought it might be useful to inform others of this 'leak', which most ex-pats will know what this means when happens in the U.K.,and also the general implications for the future,........both financially and political, though I already notice some are a little blind to these facts.

It is not for you Glyph to bite at the ankles of a writter on here whenever they write something that has not been previously written up on, otherwise, you could end up as bitter and nasty as one or two others on this site.

[Mad Dilys]

The title of this topic is "Carrot-Stick Stick-Carrot" - Well it seems to me that the best use of these items is to use the stick with a piece of string to dangle the carrot in front of the donkey's nose, thus making him trot forward willingly in order to obtain his tasty treat - but never actually having the satisfaction of enjoying the nourishing morsel.

Bit like this thread really.

PS I couldn't resist writing in the same style

[Glyphdoctor]

OK, since you are really being obstinate, I have to ask can you please explain to us how the finance minister holding a televised press conference and announcing this during said press conference is a "leak"?

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... Y--Mi.aspx

And I believe most members of this forum read the English Ahram and don't need me or you to be pedantic and inform them about it.

[Dusak]

Personally, it doesn't interest me if it was leaked, sneaked or peeked. If it happens, it happens.

[A-Four]

Personally, it doesn't interest me if it was leaked, sneaked or peeked. If it happens, it happens.

I would be the first to agree with you Dusak, but this is written up in this section of the forum where I am trying to express, the real implications of this leak.

No Finance Minister gives out advance knowledge of his future Budget, especially in this case where a huge increase in fuel of 10% is to be implemented, it's not just about the chaos that will occur throughout the nation, but national suppliers will have a party on such information, and God knows what effect this will have on the Egyptian economy until 1st July.

It is patently obvious that some one high up in the administration was about to leak the information, and the Minister of Finance had to step in and make such an announcement . In previous Egyptian administrations, this created public outcry, then the president, especially in Mubarak's time, would make a national broadcaster saying "My 'children', I have stopped this crazy policy, it will now be only 5%". I am sure we shall see how this will develop in the future.

With regards to your quote from that rag known as Al Ahram Glyph, well I am a little surprised at you. You know very well that this organ is fully loaded with crap and mainly dis-information,............but then again, you do live there and like others must toe the line,........or else.

[Glyphdoctor]

I'll lay off you A4 because it would be really cruel of me to continue to point out the holes in your logic after this last post.