Persad-Bissessar says her Government has paid back pay and offered 10% increases. Union leaders dispute her claims. The march starts at 9 a.m.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accused trade unions of acting out of “racial and political hatred” toward the United National Congress (UNC) Government ahead of a march in Port of Spain today, and urged law-abiding citizens, including UNC supporters, to avoid the route
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar accused trade unions of acting out of “racial and political hatred” toward the United National Congress (UNC) Government ahead of a march in Port of Spain on Friday, and urged law-abiding citizens, including UNC supporters, to avoid the route.
In a statement on X on Thursday, the prime minister said the unions would join “the same PNM MPs” who for ten years refused to pay salary increases and back pay. She said the UNC Government, in 18 months, has begun paying back pay, updated salaries, is offering 10 percent increases and passing labour legislation to protect union members. She said the unions did not protest for those payments under the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) government and that they “wake up” whenever there is a non-PNM government or an East Indian prime minister in office.
She named five PNM MPs, including Imbert, Young and Al Rawi, and said she hoped they would explain their treatment of workers over the last decade. She said no matter what the Government does, it will “never be enough” for some unions, and that the protest is driven by racial and political hatred, not by efforts to win benefits for members. Citing what she called recent comments by PNM MPs “invoking hatred” toward UNC members, she urged all law-abiding citizens, including UNC supporters, to avoid the proposed route and Port of Spain altogether if possible. She said protesters might try to provoke supporters and the police into a violent confrontation. She said the law-abiding, hardworking citizens would “continue to prosper under the UNC.”
On Monday, the Prime Minister announced she had instructed that provisions be made to conclude negotiations with the named bargaining units immediately, according to the Guardian. NATUC general secretary Michael Annisette said that would not defuse the march because the issues are bigger than wages. Union leaders also rejected the claim that unions march only under East Indian-led governments, saying they have marched under every administration.
Aurax News could not independently verify the Prime Minister’s claims about past pay or the intent of the protesters. The PNM has said it will take part in the march.
This story will be updated.