Our Country, Our Patrimony

The dire warnings of respected economists must have informed the negotiations between the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) leaders, government officials, and the Petrotrin management.

A heavily indebted and unprofitable company forced to its knees amidst the threat of a national scarcity of fuel, the vexed discussion of possible devaluation, employee layoffs and further social instability was the nightmare that loomed large in the discussions of the small man and the country’s management alike.

It is significant there were no reports of panic buying of fuel and the general feeling was that the Petrotrin workers themselves seemed either reluctant to strike or felt that somehow the proposed strike action would be avoided.

The public registered its outrage both at what they perceived as the unreasonable demands of the union management at a time of economic downturn and at the suffering that they would have to endure on a daily basis. The agreement on a five percent wage increase for the 2011-2014 bargaining period signals a reprieve from the threatened industrial action, but there remains the question of an agreement for the 2014-2017 period. It is hoped that the Industrial Court will propose a solution, which will be fair to the workers and to the company where they earn a livelihood.

Justice will, in fact, be served if citizens can feel satisfied that present and further wage increases will be met with greatly increased productivity as promised by OWTU leader Ancel Roget.

In addition, they will be more accepting of the need to sustain a company if it eradicates practices that have led to charges, in the public domain, of corruption and gross mis-management.

Trinidad and Tobago must demand that public companies, government officials and any other institution that are funded by the public purse be efficient, effective and serve the needs of the people.

Jesus’ baptism, a feast we celebrated last Monday on the day after the Feast of the Epiphany, offers us important reminders on how we are to live as disciples of Jesus in today’s world. His perfect obedience and humility, his recognition and acceptance of his role as exemplar and selfless leader should shine like a beacon in an era when the thirst for power, and for self-glorification seem to be the order of the day.

Our recognition of the cut-and-thrust aspect of life in the modern world does not absolve our people and our leaders from the duty to espouse and embody the principles of justice and true patriotism.

This is our country, our patrimony and so it must remain for us all.