Officials of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) yesterday warned the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) that just as the People’s Partnership regime lasted five years, it could be “easy come, easy go” for their administration.
The labour grouping expressed dissatisfaction at the way the country was being governed during Labour Day celebrations in Fyzabad yesterday, with JTUM leader Ancel Roget urging Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to rein in errant ministers.
“Who don’t hear will feel,” he said, as he reviewed Government’s nine-month term at the annual celebrations at Charlie King Junction.
Roget reminded trade unionists that in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, JTUM held several meetings with political parties, which led to the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the PNM.
“Firstly, we wish state publicly that we are very unhappy with the way things are going. Clearly there is a major disconnect with some ministers and the MOU. They are operating like lords unto themselves, conveniently forgetting that there is signed MOU with their political leader now the Prime Minister,” he said.
“Thus far they continue to show disregard for the memorandum of understanding and this can only be to the detriment of the government because whilst we hold to our side of the MOU, there are certain ministers who are very disrespectful to the process as defined in the document. Their actions are even threatening the much needed industrial peace and stability, which is a major prerequisite for the country’s development, particularly in these challenging times, because if there was ever a time for collaboration, that time is now.”
Roget warned the minister that this is not a time for “over inflated egos and individual grandstanding.” He took particular issue with Finance Minister Colm Imbert, saying that the 2016 national budget and mid-year review were done without consultation. He said Imbert was disrespectful for announcing his decision to pay workers 50 per cent of outstanding back pay by June with the rest being offered in bonds.
He said while JTUM recognised the economic challenges the country faced, they condemned the fiscal measures being used, including reduction of the subsidy on diesel, the removal of zero-rated VAT items and Government’s failure to amend the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act.
He said decisions by Government are affecting the poor, vulnerable and working class while the wealthy continue to get incentives to make more money. He also reminded them that the failure to address rampant crime was the undoing of the Patrick Manning and Kamla Persad-Bissessar administrations.
The JTUM leader called for “out of the box thinking and patriotism.” He wants Government to inject $5.7 billion into the economy next year for expansion of the food production sector, targeting small and medium farmers at the cost of $1.2 billion.
He is also recommending new roads, bridges and other infrastructural project worth $1.5 billion, expansion of the manufacturing sector with a focus on exports valued at $1.5 billon and increasing the range of energy products at $1.5 billion. Roget called for establishment of a $2 billion industrial development fund to disburse low interest loans at rates of one to five per cent to small and medium size businesses with the capacity to generate foreign currency and promote good industrial relations.
Jail corrupt public officials
Noting that the Opposition has been criticising Government’s tenure, Roget said it was the People’s Partnership who played a big role in the country’s current economic problems.
He said even when oil prices were high, JTUM warned the People’s Partnership that the country could not sustain extravagant spending when there were no new revenue sources.
He said for JTUM to forget the former government’s transgressions over the last five years would be an injustice to the country and he rubbished their effort to persuade the population that they are the best alternative to the PNM.
“The danger of this omission is that it could create a type of illusion that they may very well be seen by some as an alternative and that must never ever happen again. You see, there are those who would want us to forget what the UNC did over the last five years, even as they conveniently hold on to issues of the past many decades later,” Roget said.
“They want us to forget about Anil Roberts and ‘Shoppin Toppin.’ They are very silent about Ramlogan and Rambachan, and they certainly want us to forget about SIS, Kallco and the multi-billion dollar contracts.”
The JTUM leader said after nine months in office, people are fed up of Government “bussing mark” on the former PP. He called for an anti corruption investigative probe of corrupt officials to bring them to justice. Only then, he said, will citizens believe Government was serious about corruption.