Petrotrin’s vice-president of human resources Keith Ramnath could be arrested if he fails to appear in court in November 13 to answer a charge of unfairly dismissing Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union branch president Ernesto Kesar. This was the warning from the union’s attorney Anthony Bullock after Justice of the Peace John Dixon adjourned the matter because of Ramnath’s absence.
When the matter was called in the Point Fortin Second Court, Ramnath’s attorneys, former industrial court president Addison Khan and his son Allister, presented a medical certificate stating that he was abroad receiving medical treatment. The charge of unfair dismissal was supposed to be read against Ramnath but there was no magistrate present to deal with the matter.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Bullock said the matter was adjourned to November 13 on the request of Ramnath’s attorneys. He added: “The court was told he is out of the jurisdiction seeking medical attention. We did not get any indication of what the medical attention is for but as soon as the matter is called again on November 13, the charge will be read against him.
“If he does not appear in court on that date, it is open to the magistrate to issue a warrant for his arrest to force his attendance to court.” That was greeted by loud cheers by the dozens of OWTU members who turned out to support Kesar. Earlier on, union members, including president general Ancel Roget and other executive members crowded the courtroom for the hearing and later assembled on the sidewalk outside the court chanting and singing.
THE CASE
In November, Ramnath signed a letter firing Kesar for an unsanctioned four-hour leave on October 17. Kesar had previously worked at Trinmar for 20 years and was on a five-day suspension from Trinmar for holding union meetings on site when he was dismissed. In May, Ramnath was summoned to appear in court for “victimising the complainant by issuing a letter of dismissal to him.”