Protest over PM’s Cabinet retreat

However, Petrotrin said it spent $18 million to refurbish the bungalows. Scores of workers gathered in front of the offices from as early as 6 am with placards. The offices in Santa Flora are located on the main road to Palo Seco — three miles from the bungalows where the ministers are staying for the next three days. McLeod said while the union was not against the facilities’ upgrade, the exorbitant sum used to refurbish the bungalows should have gone to settle a number of outstanding workers’ issues. The workers were still awaiting merit allowances for 2001-2002, while temporary workers have not yet been granted permanent status, McLeod said. He also called for the reintroduction of a three-shift system.

OWTU (Santa Flora) branch president Leroy Connell said a number of luxury items had been purchased for the bungalows. He said air condition units, cable dishes and scores of television sets and electricity generators were installed at the bungalows. Cornell said the protesting workers were also peeved over the spending, considering the lack of basic facilities in the Palo Seco district. He said OWTU has since compiled a 40-point grievance demand to be presented to the company for early settlement.

If the demands are not agreed on by next Monday, Cornell said, workers would “shut-down the company.” When Manning passed through Santa Flora, the demonstration had already ended. All Cabinet ministers attended the retreat yesterday including Works Minister Colm Imbert and Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Rowley however, arrived late at Petrotrin’s facilities. He was forced to opt out of a nationwide tour of housing facilities to attend the second half of the retreat. Patrick Manning was among the first to arrive at 10 am.