ATGWTU calls on absent PM

ATGWTU members marched last Friday from the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) to the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, to deliver a letter outlining their concerns.

Union head Nirvan Maharaj said they are taking a stand and demanding their rights which are legally due to them.

He said they were going to peacefully march to the PM’s office requesting the his (PM) personal intervention to deal with the matter.

“We would like the Prime Minister’s personal intervention in the issues that have been affecting.

“We would like him to intervene to ensure that the 5,000 Ex-Caroni workers get what is due to them and who are still waiting 13 years for their VSE P package.

We are hoping that this issue is dealt with before the end of this year.” Maharaj also said he would like to inform the PM that it is a breach of citizens constitutional rights when they cannot live in a country in peace, safety and security.

“Something needs to be done to ensure that the crime situation is arrested because people throughout the length and breath of Trinidad and Tobago people are suffering and living in fear.

“We are simply asking the Prime Minister to ensure that the constitution and people rights are given to them,” Maharaj explained.

As the medium group assembled in front of the PM’s office in the rain, Maharaj said they are hoping that all issues would be settled before the end of this year.

He said the United National Congress has failed to deliver to the ex- Caroni workers what was due to them, and called on Rowley to “live up to his electoral promises,” and deliver to the workers what was due to them.

“We are hoping within a matter of a week or so we have a response from th Prime Minister and then we can take it from there,” he said.

However, Maharaj said they are also discussing the matter with their attorneys at law who dealt with the matter in 2007.

“You cannot have a situation in this country where there is a mandatory Court order from the High Court and Governance, and subsequence governance continues to breach that order. So you have basically a violation of the constitution rights of the people of this country under the rule of law,” he said Several of the issues, Maharaj outlined in the letter to Rowley include outstanding lands and leases owed to the Ex-Caroni Workers, outstanding money owed to Cane Framers, issues at the Mora Valley Farm, back pay owed to the visually impaired workers at the Blind Welfare Association, Sweetener Loan interest repayment, increasing retrenchment of workers, the rising crime situation and the need for a proper diversification programme for the economy