Why we still need the Privy Council

THE EDITOR: I write to compliment you on the publication of two recent articles which, combined with the recent ranting of the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project, can be considered sufficient reason for the ordinary man in the street to lobby for the retention of the Privy Council as the final court of appeal. I refer to an article in your issue of June 22 concerning the plight of the former members of TEXTEL Pension Plan and one in your issue of June 29 concerning the plight of a Tobago farmer and his fight for compensation for a faulty tractor. As a former employee of TEXTEL I am particularly concerned about the position taken by TSTT on the issue of the excess in the Pension Fund. When one considers that this is a transnational company that boasts of a net profit well in excess of one million dollars per day, one can only describe their position as repulsive.

Just as bad is the position taken by the Trustee. I always believed that trustees were guardians of funds on behalf of persons who were exclusive beneficiaries of those funds. Now I wonder whether I can trust any financial institution in this country with my hard earned money. I am in full support of the decision taken by my former co-workers in TEXTEL to take this matter all the way to the Privy Council. We have been badly treated since the takeover of TEXTEL by TELCO (yes takeover not merger). Many of us are now on the breadline and badly need the little pittance to which we are entitled and which TSTT is seeking to squander.

LENNOX  MARTIN
Ex-TEXTEL Worker