vendredi, septembre 01, 2006 (or, Why the IMF-World Bank Meetings are good for Singapore)The Singapore government is renowned the world over for being one of the most efficient and incorruptible on the planet. And yet, startling inefficiencies and wastage have suddenly been discovered as the IMF-World Bank meetings draw near. (This next section is culled from a number of observations by various friends working around town.) 1. Construction: that little slip of a road between the Padang and the Cenotaph - This spot has been an eyesore since the beginning of time - in fact, I don't remember a time when there WASN'T some form of ugly orange barricade or other lining that path. But when you walk by there now - it's clean. Clear (or clearing up). Like a bad pimple that's clearing up, the whole walkway looks so much more uncluttered now, and you can actually take a GOOD picture of the Padang without bloody orange stuff blocking your way. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? 2. Construction: the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) walkway - Another festering sore which has damaged more than one high heel as pedestrians are forced to stumble around the backside and the innards of SAM, occasionally pissing Dome waiters and managers off as we take the shortcut through Dome. Magic! That stretch is CLEANING UP! I just bus-ed past it today, and I can finally see the front facade of SAM again, and the pavement, and - get this - that little side road (Queen Street) almost looks like (hold your breath!) it's a THROUGH ROAD! Amazing! WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG? 3. Wastage: Highways and Roads - From my memory, we've NEVER painted our highways before. Ever. It was just a nice, boring grey. They looked like highways. But now, noooo. We're PAINTING THEM. Not just that, but we're painting them WHITE. In Asian weather. With mould that loves to grow. With motorists belching out exhaust. NEVER BEFORE, WHY NOW? WHY PUT IT UP WHEN IT'S JUST GONNA GET DIRTY AGAIN? ESP WHITE??? DID GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RUN OUT OF IMAGINATION AND DECIDE TO USE ALL THE COLOURS? How about you? Anyone else with stories to share? [Singapore is inefficient] |
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