Black Immigrant Daily News

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Members of the TT Defence Force and Coast Guard stand at attention at the flag raising re-enactment ceremony during the 50th anniversary of independence celebrations held at Woodford Square, Port of Spain, on August 30 2012. – File Photo

THE Defence Force (TTDF) has accepted government’s four per cent wage increase offer amid rumours of anger and discontent among the ranks over this decision made by the top brass.

The acceptance of the offer came on Friday, according to a release from Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Dr Darryl Dindial.

This Defence Force is the second branch within the public service to sign off on the offer after the Amalgamated Workers Union, which represents daily-paid workers in the Port of Spain Corporation, did so several weeks ago.

However, sources within the force say while the CPO lauded the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and others for “balancing expectations,” soldiers on the ground are angry over the agreement. Some even took to social media to vent their dissatisfaction with the CDS.

The CPO’s release confirmed that the Defence Force signed off on the offer which covers the collective bargaining periods, 2014-2016, and 2017-2019.

Along with the pay rise, the TTDF also got new allowances for instructors conducting basic recruit training; radar operating and technicians; dog handling; increments for permanent reservists; allowances for front-line operators engaged in inter-agency task force operations and maritime duties; and incentive allowances for pilots and aviation engineers.

“Additionally, subject to the approval of the Cabinet, the Force received consideration for a special missions allowance for regional operations and compensation for a part-time Strategic Think Tank.”

“The latter is intended to support the development and modernisation of the TTDF to improve on the delivery of its mandate, treat with new and emerging threats, the development of doctrine, its military justice system, wellness system and revised recruitment, performance management and training standards,” the release said.

UNPRECEDENTED

Newsday was told this was the first time since the 1970 Black Power Revolution that soldiers had signed off on wage negotiations before the police.

Police Social Welfare Association (PSWA) president Inspector Gideon Dickson said it is common practise for police officers to negotiate wages, then soldiers who do not have a bargaining body and cannot take industrial action, depend on the results of those negotiations to set a precedent, where they would then be paid at a higher rate.

“I am not aware that something like this has ever happened before,” Dickson said.

“I know there is a principle by which they would get the same wages negotiated by the police and a third.”

Dickson said the police are still engaged in negotiations with the CPO. The PSWA has responded to the CPO’s offer with a counter offer and are awaiting a response, Dickson said.

“We have not approached negotiations from the perspective of emotions and conventional methods to try to achieve the best for the membership. We approached it from a scientific perspective. We did our research. All our engagement was from a scientific point of view.”

He added that the PSWA has taken several factors into consideration with its counter-offer including the rate of death of police officers and rising crime.

TTDF’S SHAM

NEGOTIATIONS

Meanwhile, the Fire Service Association (FSA) labelled the completed negotiations between the TTDF and the CPO as a sham, while speaking to reporters on Friday.

FSA head Leo Ramkissoon said because the TTDF does not have a bargaining unit, they were taken advantage of and forced into accepting the offer.

“I am quite certain that like the remainder of the wider trade union movement and workers across TT, soldiers and other members of the Defence Force would, on a personal level, reject the offer of four per cent over six years,” Ramkissoon said.

“I believe this is another demonstration of a strong-arm tactic of the State to impose on workers an adjustment to salary which amounts to a wage cut – one which, if the soldiers had the choice – they would have rejected.”

“But because the soldiers have no bargaining unit and are susceptible to the impositions to the CPO and the State, they would have had little choice.

“This announcement of an agreement as if they were involved in a genuine salary negotiation and they hammered out some things to be fair, it is nothing less than a sham.”

Ramkissoon said the acceptance by the TTDF could not be established as a precedent for other arms of the protective services, as it is only the court that can determine what should be a precedent and what should not.

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This year’s SLFA/Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament has suffered yet another postponement, this time due to persistent rain affecting the island over the past few days.

Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual SLFA/Blackheart Football Tournament kicked off on September 24, 2022, at the La Ressource Playing Field in Mabouya Valley after being postponed by a week due to referees hosting a training workshop that coincided with the original September 17 season opener.

Three days of football were scheduled to be hosted at the La Ressource Playing Field, beginning Saturday, October 1 and ending Monday, October 3.

However, organizers made the decision on Thursday to postpone this weekend’s matches, citing incessant downpours, meteorology forecasts and cautions to citizens of flash floods and other weather-related phenomena.

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An earlier inspection of the La Resource Playing Field, one of the three venues for this year’s tournament, revealed that its marshy and water-logged condition deemed it unsuitable for play.

New dates for the first round of matches will be provided shortly.

Meanwhile, the sixteen teams scheduled to play in this year’s tournament were determined at the Press Launch and Fixtures Draw convened on Wednesday evening at the Gros Islet Human Resource Development Centre.

First round match-ups are as follows:

Vieux Fort South vs. Canaries
Mabouya Valley vs. Anse La Raye
La Clery vs. Babonneau
Soufriere vs. Vieux Fort North
Micoud vs. Gros Islet
Marchand vs. South Castries
Dennery vs. Central Castries
Desruisseaux vs. Laborie

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blackheart Productions, David “Shakes” Christopher, spoke at Wednesday evening’s Press Launch, addressing some concerns related to the tournament.

He said that aside from the pandemic, other challenges facing the annual event included the loss of major sponsors, inclement weather, and social issues that continue to cause organizers to make tough decisions, including choice of venues.

Nevertheless, Christopher said organizers will continue to keep the sport of football alive, revive and protect the Blackheart brand, make positive and cost-effective decisions, guarantee patron safety, and satisfy expectations.

“We wish all teams the very best of success in this year’s competition, especially four-time and defending champions, Vieux Fort South, who are disappointed that no matches will be held at the Philip Marcellin Grounds,” Christopher said. “However, due to logistical reasons, including loss major sponsorship, we were forced to take a few tough decisions.”

As an example, if organizers were to insist on using the Philip Marcellin Grounds this year, they would have had to meet some stringent requirements, including heightened security, which would cost them $8,000.00 per night to pay 25 police officers.

“We hope that, going forward, we can have some of the prominent businesses and stakeholders in Vieux Fort come forward to discuss and lend their financial and other support towards resuming games in Vieux Fort,” Christopher said.

“We also hope that our usual Vieux Fort fans continue to come out and support their team and the tournament. For instance, we saw a large support from Vieux Fort fans during the Big 8 tournament that was held in Dennery in August when Vieux Fort South made the final.”

In 2019, Vieux Fort hosted the entire tournament.

This year, matches will be played at the Soufriere Mini Stadium, La Ressource Playing Field (Mabouya Valley) and Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Christopher said the SLFA/Blackheart Football Tournament is the people’s tournament, and will be spread among the people and communities.

Hon. Kenson Casimir, Minister for Youth Development & Sports, also spoke at Wednesday evening’s Press Launch, noting the importance of the football tournament that was first held in 1997.

“That Blackheart that stopped beating for two years could not have continued in 2022,” he said. “And under no circumstance with me as a Minister for Sports could we have allowed for another year of Blackheart to not be the heartbeat of sports in our communities.”   

Hon. Casimir also announced that Government hopes to facilitate the establishment of a semi-professional football league in Saint Lucia soon, thereby heightening interest in the sport and giving players, coaches and other stakeholders a chance to earn a sustained income from sports.

Meanwhile, in qualifiers held on Saturday, September 24, at La Ressource Playing Field, Anse La Raye defeated Babonneau 5-3 on penalties after the second half ended 1-1.

In Match 2 that same day, South Castries defeated Choiseul 5-4 on penalties after the second half ended 1-1. On Sunday, September 25, at the same venue, Babonneau defeated Choiseul 4-1, with Yanick Noel scoring a hat-trick.

Sponsors for this year’s tournament include the Saint Lucia Football Association, Insomnia Bar and Grill, Guinness, Blue Waters (distributors of Stamina Energy), National Lotteries Authority, Ministry of Youth Development & Sports, Edge Marketing, Flow, MBC/Real FM, DBS, Vybe Radio, Soufriere Regional Development Foundation, Sports Saint Lucia Inc., RE Sports Inc., and Button Up.

SOURCE: Blackheart Productions. Headline photo:  CEO of Blackheart Football Tournament, David “Shakes” Christopher, Hon. Kenson Casimir, Minister for Youth Development & Sports, and other stakeholders at Wednesday evening’s Press Launch and Fixtures Draw.

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Vendredi 30 Septembre 2022 – 19h16

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