Crowds protest against government wage increase | Local News

Prime Minister Keith Rowley faced heavy criticism over pay rises as hundreds of people gathered at Queen’s Park Savannah, opposite Whitehall, Port of Spain yesterday.

Whitehall is the Prime Minister’s office.

Trade unionists, politicians and some concerned citizens have responded to the call of the United Trade Union Movement (JTUM) to stand with the unions and express their discontent with the government.

While the main grievance on the lips of many trade unionists and politicians present was Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s acceptance of the pay rise proposed by the Salaries Review Commission (SRC), others lamented that the scale of the problems facing the country should have attracted attention. larger crowd.

Still others hoped that these numbers would translate into votes and the eventual ousting of the People’s National Movement (PNM) from power.

While some came with microphones and bullhorns, others were armed with signs reading “Imprison Imbert now”, “Peaceful demonstration for change”, “Transparency for the education of our children” , “Stop squandering Trinidad and Tobago’s assets” and “Too many killings”.

Last Friday, while holding a protest in the rain outside the Prime Minister’s residence in St Ann’s, JTUM president Ancel Roget called on all unions under his aegis to unite and register their discontent with the towards the Prime Minister. face following the Cabinet’s decision to accept the 120th SRC report which recommended salary increases for the Prime Minister, President, Opposition Leader, judges and other civil servants.

Prior to this, T&TEC workers under the umbrella of JTUM and port workers under the umbrella of NATUC joined hands for a protest and candlelight vigil which began on Dock Road in Port of Spain.

Two days ago, the Public Services Association (PSA) also announced that it would join the march for justice.

The event attracted several opposition members, including Wade Mark, David Lee, Rushton Paray and Dinesh Rambally.

The time has come

Speaking to the media at the event, several union members said the climate was ripe for the labor movement to unite for common causes affecting workers.

Social Justice Movement leader David Abdulah, however, stressed that he was the first to call on unions to come together. He said he first made the call in September last year, then repeated it in a press release in late October.

“During my press conference on November 17, two days after the SRC report was tabled in Parliament, I said it was time to act, and I called on the unions to organize,” he said. said Abdulah. He added that he was happy that a strong stance had been taken.

He said working-class citizens were angry because Rowley had given himself a massive raise, “while others were given a 4 percent increase.” His allegations of unfair treatment by the government were echoed by the general secretary of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU), Joanne Ogreer, who lamented that workers alone were forced to bear a 4% adjustment burden. .

UNC Senator Mark said it was inevitable that people would respond to JTUM’s call and express their support.

He said the mass of the population believed they were being crushed by the government’s poor economic direction and elitist economic policies. “It made the rich richer and the poor poorer. So, I think the poor had a duty to get out; and I must defend them so that justice is done to the majority,” he said.

Paray: historical event

Mayaro MP Paray described the day as historic, where people came together despite their ethnic, religious and geographical differences.

He said people came together because they wanted good governance.

“This good governance equates to the fact that you cannot let elected leaders accept lucrative salary increases when the majority of the population has exceptional salaries and wages (owed to them). The majority of these low-income earners are marginal, and if they are not, they are below the poverty line; so that’s what it’s about. Paray said.

Asked if he expected the participation of hundreds of people in the march to translate into votes, Opposition Chief Whip Lee said he hoped so: “Let I put it this way: any other party would be better than what is currently happening within the party. country, and people are demanding a change of government.

He said the UNC was the only party capable of bringing about this change and highlighted that under the leadership of Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who took office in 2010 under similar economic circumstances, there had been growth in during his mandate.

Griffith: democratic dictatorship

Also present, National Transformation Alliance (NTA) leader Gary Griffith said he too welcomed the invitation to come to the march as he saw it as a way for different political factions and organizations to bridge their gaps. differences and seek to come together on common ground. cause.

“This is more than just a review of SRC salaries; that’s more than 4%. It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and it can unify different organizations and political parties to do what we’re here to do,” Griffith said, adding that a politician’s job is to serve the people.

In one word, Griffith defined the country’s current situation: “Enough.”

“We talk enough about the discrimination, abuse, incompetence, mismanagement and complete lack of respect from those in government,” he said.

Asked if he expected a larger crowd at the march, Griffith said no: “I’ll tell you why. This country is what we call a democratic dictatorship. We have hundreds and thousands of citizens who are public servants who wouldn’t dare put their face here – because they’re going to be victimized, they’re going to be discriminated (against), they’re going to be fired. We have tens of thousands of businessmen who would not venture here because they would lose their business and be targeted.”

Leadership Lessons

First Wave Movement leader Umar Abdullah said it is not only workers and trade unionists who face injustice, but also the common man walking on the streets.

Abdullah listed two issues: the babies who died in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital earlier this year, as well as the lack of compensation for the families of divers who lost their lives. life in Paria. tragedy.

However, Abdullah warned that his organization was not interested in removing the ruling party. He said he wanted the government to do what it was mandated to do and was not interested in impeaching Dr Keith Rowley, but hoped it would do the right thing. Abdullah said he had no problem taking the prime minister by the hands and giving him leadership lessons.

“It doesn’t matter who is in power; if you come to power, you must defend the people and represent them well. It is your duty.

Abdullah questioned the logic that removing the government was the answer to the problem, asking: “Are we sure that if we overthrow the government and put in another political party we will get change?” Or an exchange?

He said this was the real question that needed to be asked of those seeking political aspirations.