RESISTANCE RESISTED

The Government also weighed in on Duke’s so-called day of resistance, saying the Public Service was in no way affected and that it was business as usual across the country. However, Duke said the success of the protest should not be judged by numbers alone as he claimed the PSA made its own checks and found that 30 percent of public servants stayed away from work.

Checks by Newsday, with several Government departments, revealed normal staff turnout.

The Ministry of Public Administration stated in a release that there were no significant reports of absenteeism. “Checks revealed no unusual absences or reports of disruption to the normal operations of the Public Service despite calls for a day of resistance,” the release indicated.

It added that Minister of Public Administration Maxie Cuffie congratulated public servants for doing their duty and ignoring calls to disrupt work. “This is especially welcomed in a period when the country’s productivity is being called into question and its reputation is at stake, especially as we seek to invite much-needed foreign investment.

What is even more encouraging is that the attempted disruption was ignored despite its proximity to the Easter holiday long weekend,” stated the release.

Duke said the day of resistance should be measured by its objective and the authorities did feel the impact yesterday of the resistance.

He said when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returned from oversea he would have known that yesterday was the day of resistance, adding that the day was only one of many “lashes” to come for Government.

He said the next day of resistance would take place around July/August when schools close for the mid-year break. However, he said that between now and then the PSA intends to speak out against rising food prices and “every single thing” that is keeping public officers down. He said the economy is closing in on many people.

Duke said workers are paralysed by fear over a wide range of issues from crime to transport to the fear of losing jobs. He said workers are dissatisfied with their wages; the barbaric and hostile conditions under which they work and the state of crime.

He said the spate of crime is too much.

“People are building cages and locking themselves in from the outside world. We are saying no to that. The citizens of this country must not live in fear, they are working hard, they have elected a Government. The Government should be staying here and taking charge of crime rather than running off to play golf or joy-riding.” Duke warned that he is descended from a slave who was a fighter and said he and other PSA officers are prepared to fight for public servants and to go to jail if necessary. Duke later led the handful of marchers in the trade union chant, “we shall overcome”, speaking to them with a megaphone.

Duke said there are 10,000 vacancies in the public service and this had been confirmed by the Director of Personnel Administration and the Chief Personnel Officer, but Government is refusing to fill these vacancies as it cannot afford to pay wages.