The installation of the Christopher John Williams-led board of Lake Asphalt (1978) Ltd (LATT) was greeted with hot protest by asphalt workers yesterday.
As the newly-installed chairman was outlining his plans for the company to the LATT executive, scores of noisy protesters evaded security, broke through a red caution tape and assembled outside of the administrative compound where the meeting was being held.
Ringing bells and chanting union songs, the protestors demanded the removal of its CEO Learie Hosein.
The protest did not evoke an immediate response but caught the attention of Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre, who earlier installed the board.
Contractors and General Workers Union (CGWU) branch president, Raeburn Noble, having secured Olivierre’s ear called for the firing of Hosein as well as health, safety and environment manager Ava Rajcoomar over a 14 per cent wage increase signed in September 2015.
Olivierre took the opportunity to introduce John Williams and his board to the workers as she mandated them to set up a human resource sub-committee to review the issue.
She cautioned that the board would not take any rash actions as a proper investigation had to be done. John Williams also addressed the workers and assured that the board’s first order would be to look after their concerns. However, he pleaded with them for time.
Hosein who also addressed the workers explained to them even if he resigned it would not change the outcome of the negotiations.
He explained the negotiations between the company and the union were already agreed upon but the Chief Personnel Officer had to put the final stamp of approval.
“The increase was sent to the Minister of Energy and they sent it to the CPO. If I resign today, it will not change the outcome of the negotiations.
“We made recommendations for the 14 per cent but it is out of our hands. This was done since last September, but the economy has changed drastically since then,” Hosein said
LATT chairman Christopher John Williams expressing concern about LATT’s inability to generate sufficient revenue from the sale of its own products, said he intended to transform the company into a foreign exchange earner for the country.
Saying his research showed that 70 per cent of LATT’s revenue was derived from the sales of Petrotrin’s bitumen, he pointed out that the company was experiencing some challenges in renewing that contract.
With last year’s sales taking a hit due to decreasing exports to their biggest customer China, he said the company was forced to look at new markets.
Olivierre commended the members, saying they possessed the right mix of expertise and experience. “Today is a very important day in the future of LATT. Today is the day that you get your new board.
You have been operating for the last couple of months in a quasi, non governed manner and that ends from today,” she added.
She said in addition to John Williams’ experience, he is from the southwestern peninsula and fully understood the role the company played in the community.
“He will certainly support your efforts in seeing that Lake Asphalt continues to be the excellent force of unity that it has been in this community,” she said.
The board also comprises two defeated PNM candidates Marsha Bailey and Vidya Deokiesingh, Claire Gomez-Miller, Christopher Hagley, Ryan Mitchell and Wendell Seecharan.