Hundreds of people recently gathered at Queen’s Park Savannah, which is across from Whitehall, in Port of Spain, where Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley was subjected to harsh criticism about pay hikes.
The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) called on politicians, trade union members, and a few concerned people to voice their disapproval of the government by publicly supporting the unions.
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Although Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s approval of the salary increase suggested by the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) was the main complaint of many union members and politicians present, others bemoaned the fact that the scope of the nation’s problems should have attracted a larger audience.
Others still held out hope that the numbers would result in votes and the People’s National Movement (PNM) being overthrown.
Others arrived with posters that said, among other things, “Jail Imbert now,” “Peaceful protest for change,” “Transparency for our children’s education,” “Stop piping out Trinidad and Tobago assets,” and “Too many murders.” Some of the others had microphones and bullhorns.
During a rainy protest outside the Prime Minister’s St. Ann’s residence, JTUM president Ancel Roget urged all unions under its aegis to unite and express their displeasure with the Prime Minister, calling it a “slap in the face” after Cabinet accepted the SRC’s 120th Report, which suggested pay increases for the PM, President, Opposition Leader, judges, and other officials.
Before that, port workers sponsored by NATUC and T&TEC employees under JTUM had joined forces for a candlelight vigil and protest that began at the Dock Road in Port of Spain.
Additionally, two days earlier, the Public Services Association (PSA) declared their intention to participate in the march for justice.
Some opposition figures, including Wade Mark, David Lee, Rushton Paray, and Dinesh Rambally, attended the event.
Several union members told reporters at the gathering that the time was right for the labor movement to come together for shared issues impacting workers.
But according to David Abdulah, leader of the Movement for Social Justice, he was the first to urge labor unions to unite. He claimed to have made that call in September of last year and to have reiterated it at the end of October in a press release.
Abdulah stated, “At my press conference on November 17, two days after the SRC Report was laid in Parliament, I said that now is the time for action, and I called on the trade unions to organize this.”
He went on to say that he was pleased that a hard stand was adopted.
He said that Rowley’s huge raise for himself had infuriated working-class residents, “while others had a 4 percent forced down their throats.” Joanne Ogreer, the secretary general of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), repeated his allegations of unjust treatment by the government and bemoaned the fact that workers alone were forced to shoulder a 4% adjustment load.
Senator Mark of UNC stated that people will inevitably respond to JTUM’s request and show their support.
He said that the majority of people thought the government’s elite economic policies and economic diversions were crushing them, “It has made the rich richer and the poor, poorer. So, I think the poor had a duty to come out; and I have to come out in their defence for justice for the majority.”
People came together despite their regional, religious, and cultural boundaries, making the day historic, according to Mayaro MP Paray.
He claimed that the desire for excellent government was the reason why people gathered.
“That good governance equates to the fact that you cannot have elected leaders taking lucrative salary hikes when the majority of the population have outstanding salaries and wages (due them). The majority of these lower-income earners are marginal, and if they are not marginal, they are below the poverty line; so that is what this is about.” Paray stated.
Opposition Chief Whip Lee expressed his optimism that the hundreds of people who attended the march will result in votes. “Let me put it this way: any other party would be better than what is currently taking place right now in the country, and the people are crying out for change in government.”
He asserted that the UNC was the only party capable of enacting that transformation and emphasized that progress occurred during Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s term, who had assumed power in 2010 amid comparable economic conditions.
Gary Griffith, a leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), was also there and said he accepted the invitation to attend the march because he believed it would help the various political groups and organizations overcome their differences and work toward a shared goal.
