Roget warns of ‘fourth storm’

“There is a storm coming,” Roget predicted. “There is a fourth storm and that fourth storm is on the fourth of August.” He addressed reporters in San Fernando before distributing flyers to mobilise the public for the impending “storm”, set to touch down on Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain.

Roget criticised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for meeting with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday.

Roget said that Rowley applied and earned his position (of power) by saying Persad-Bissessar was unable to do the job but is now turning to the same Persad-Bissessar for ideas.

“The former Prime Minister Patrick Manning would never in his wildest dreams have done something like this,” Roget charged.

Roget said the purpose of the massive demonstration would not be to “bring down any government” but to demand the government do the job for which it applied.

“The government went through the length and breadth of this country applying for a job which is t o protect worker’s job. Instead, they are sending workers home to keep their (government) job and to keep the elites in place. To me that has to be wrong and it has to be condemned and it is not to be supported.” Roget was flanked by Christopher Streete, the Deputy General Secretary of the National Trade Union Centre and leaders and members of other unions, including the OWTU, Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, Contractors and General Workers Trade Union, All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and others.

Roget’s walkabout came 24 hours before Energy and Energy Industries Minister Franklin Khan was carded to meet with the OWTU to discuss matters related to Petrotrin based on a government-commissioned report into ways to improve Petrotrin’s efficiency and production capacity.

In a ministry release on Tuesday, Minister Khan said, “We intend to work with all those who want to be part of the solution.

We look forward to productive discussions with the OWTU and the other stakeholders towards this end.

As a government, we plan to deal frontally with the challenges that face Petrotrin working with all stakeholders, Petrotrin will take decisive action to control costs, generate working capital for investment and make the company profitable once again. I look forward to meaningful and open discussion with President General Ancel Roget and the team from the OWTU.”