Rowley should re-check himself

Rowley said that Roget’s comment was not good for the nation at a time when this country is in a recession and must do all it can to remain competitive and attract investments from global energy players.

Speaking to reporters while union members staged a protest outside of TSTT’s human resource offices on St Vincent Street in Portof- Spain, Remy yesterday stated, “Let me say without fear of contradiction the CWU, over the years, relentlessly pursued a national agenda.” He cited the union’s efforts for TSTT, “to remain in the hands of locals” and its objection to the closure of the Tourism Development Company (TDC), as examples of this national agenda.

Remy had a pointed suggestion to the leader of the government. “If the Prime Minister is of the belief that we (in the trade union movement) are not (patriotic) he needs to re-check himself. This union is more patriotic than the Prime Minister and (Tourism Minister) Shamfa Cudjoe!” Reiterating that the CWU is “a true patriotic union”, Remy declared, “I am convinced that what we are saying is very nationalistic.

What they are saying is destroying the country.” Alleging that Cudjoe was misleading the country about the reasons for the closure of the TDC, Remy said the CWU will present its proposal to restructure this company next week.

He repeated the union’s call for a report — used to justify the TDC’s closure — to be made public and for Rowley to fire his Tourism Minister. Noting the hint dropped last week, by Roget, of a major announcement either on May Day or Labour Day in June, Remy said the CWU will be part of those efforts under the banner of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM).

Reminding reporters that JTUM has withdrawn from the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC), Remy said, “We are mindful of the current economic circumstances but that must never be used as an excuse to exploit workers.” Against this background, Remy said the union has concerns about the contents of the Mid-Year Review to be presented by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. “In the absence of a genuine forum, we are going to question the figures that are going to come out (in the Mid- Year Review) and we will do what we have to do as a labour movement to challenge those things.”