Govt misleading you

The Voluntary Separation Package offered to ex- sugar workers created a legal right and can be enforced and a call for sugar workers to unite was made by the former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj  when he addressed a small gathering of ex sugar workers on Saturday at the Usine Ste Madeline Recreational Grounds. According to Maharaj, Government is misleading sugar workers. “The issue at present should have never occurred. For far too long sugar workers have allowed persons to trample on them. You (sugar workers) have depended on persons to fight for your rights and they have surrendered your cause.”

The promise of priority lands, pension plan, house spots and retraining of ex sugar workers to become employable was not upheld as stated by the Voluntary Separation Package. Government has sold a false perception to the public that ex- sugar workers would have been in a better position after accepting the VESEP, Maharaj said. The former AG informed the small gathering that he is determined to see that they are treated fairly. “ When government makes a promise they must honour it. All is not lost. If sugar workers band together and fight as the differently abled you would definitely make a difference. You need to unite and put pressure on the government to respond and fulfil their promise.”

A constitutional motion has been filed in court for judicial review on behalf of the ex-sugar workers. “My services are free and do not let anyone mislead you,” said Maharaj. An act has been proposed in parliament for the vestings of Caroni to be placed under another company. “This is undermining the rights of the ex-sugar workers,  I am determined to prevent this from happening.  I will give Mr Manning so much case that he would only have to be answering to affidavits,” Maharaj said.