COMMENT In the first part of my article on whether subsidies are for the poor, or for the rich such as the Umnoputras, I drew attention to the subsidy cut on gas that has come into effect and analysed its impact on poor and middle class households.

In this second part, I shall look at the area of subsidies for the cronies of the powerful political elites  who run the country – subsidies that are beneath the radar, unaccountable, undeserved and which have been partly responsible for the financial mess that the country is now facing.

What should comprise the first, second or third rung of subsidy cuts to balance the national budget should be open to national debate. In what sector; and affecting which beneficiary group and by how much?