Black Immigrant Daily News
De Surinaamse samenleving gaat momenteel zwaar gebukt onder een sociaaleconomische crisis. Voor bepaalde Surinamers is het dagelijks toverwerk hoe het
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A driver cautiously goes around safety barriers along the broken road. – AYANNA KINSALE
The North Coast Road leading to the scenic Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas Bay and other villages along the north coast has been closed off to all visitors until 6 am on Monday to allow the Ministry of Works to do emergency road repairs after a portion of the road collapsed on Friday during torrential rainfall.
In a statement on Saturday the ministry said the road will be blocked from the pillars and drivers were urged to find alternative routes. The only other access to the north coast villages is via the Blanchisseuse Road which is poor condition and under threat from landslides and falling trees during heavy rainfall.
During a visit on Saturday, workmen were nailing black plastic sheets to cover bare soil in the area where half of the road collapsed to prevent it from being water-logged and collapsing even more.
The landslip on Friday happened between the Lookout and Maracas Bay near the 10km mile marker. Landslips are an almost annual site in the area, having occurred in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022, according to past media reports.
Ministry of Works and Transport, Highway Division workers use plastic to cover the area where the landslip took place to prevent any more damage to the North Coast Road on Saturday. – AYANNA KINSALE
Owing to the severity of the slippage, the Ministry of Works and Transport said North Coast Road will be closed from Saturday at 5 pm to Monday at 6 am. Only single lane traffic is possible at that point. Yellow caution tape and orange plastic barriers have been placed at that site to alert drivers.
The road has been closed except to localised traffic from the pillars on Saddle Road, Maraval to the 10 km mile marker on the North Coast Road where repairs are underway. The release advises drivers to observe all signs and barriers, obey police officers, drive at a reduced speed and to be mindful of heavy equipment in the workzone.
Friday’s landslide occurred in viewing distance of the 2018 landslide restricted traffic and a bailey bridge and traffic lights had to be installed near the 11km mile marker resulting in snarling traffic to get to and from the beach.
Residents said the bridge and lights were removed shortly before the pandemic in March 2020 when repairs to the road were completed and two lanes were restored.
Contractors of the Ministry of Works were on site around 9 am and began spreading long sheets of black plastic, nailed to asphalt, and anchored with pieces of wood and boulders. The area of road slippage is about 40 feet long by 12 feet wide. Traffic, sparse as it was, was still flowing on the east bound lane.
The contractors said the plastic is being used as a preventative measure to ensure that the remaining road does not collapse. One of them said in all likelihood the remaining portion might collapse.
From their initial assessment, the contractors said water appeared to have seeped through an underground drain or culvert causing the soil to become inundated and the road ultimately collapsed.
Tourists Oona Goetghebuer and Leo Beliers la Fosse of French Guiana said they were disappointed the Maracas beach was deserted. – AYANNA KINSALE
The contractors also covered the hole in the culvert near the mountainside with cement, so the run-off will flow directly in the drain and onto the roadway, preventing further erosion at that weakest point.
Multiple residents said that they believe recent construction nearby was likely to be the culprit of the road slippage. Dane Dennison who has lived in Maracas for 34 years said about a year ago developers began cutting the land on the hill causing a trail of rubble to fall near Carissal Trace.
Dennison said if residents did not clean the drain themselves of the rubble the water would have come over the road and into his property on the opposite side of the road.
He believed the cylinders under the road became clogged with debris like grass, tree trunks and gravel and blocked the flow of water which found another course eroding the foundation of the road.
Dennison said the barricades and signage erected to warn motorists were insufficient and hoped the Ministry would fix the warning signs urgently to prevent a potentially fatal accident.]
Two tourists from French Guiana, Oona Goetghebeur and Leo Beliers La Fosse, who arrived on Friday said they noticed the landslip on the way to their Airbnb in Maracas but were unencumbered. They did not see the landslip as a problem. They were set to enjoy the beach but disappointed that the beach was deserted.
Workers at Richard’s Bake and Shark in Maracas also complained about the lack of patrons on what would usually be a busy day.. Misty Garcia of La Fillette, a village just after Las Cuevas, said sales were very slow on Saturday and that she expected it to continue for the coming weeks.
Garcia said she “would be scared to go on the road because you’re not sure with a next rain like yesterday, if the road will cave in itself.”
Misty Garcia a worker of Richard’s Bake and Shark at Maracas complains of slow sales on Saturday. – AYANNA KINSALE
She said the immediate loss, if beachgoers do not patronise the restaurant include costs of vegetables, sauces, flour and oil which will be unusable after today (Saturday) if their product is not sold.
Another worker said that if beachgoers don’t come, “we don’t have a salary.” Garcia said that she is just hoping for the best, after coming out from the pandemic and adverse weather warning. She said for parents like herself with her job as the only source of income, “we’re just getting slapped with one thing after the next.”
The workers at Richard’s Bake and Shark said that there were many more infrastructural issues in the area and issues relating to youth unemployment.
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Communication Workers Union (CWU) secretary general Clyde Elder. –
Over 460 workers of the Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) are now formally retrenched from the company after the expiration of 45 days’ official notice ended on Friday.
The sacking of the workers is part of restructuring of TSTT in order to cut costs and keep it running in competitive market. The workers’ last day of work was on June 15 but they were subsequently given the statutory 45-day notice.
Speaking to Newsday on Saturday, Clyde Elder head of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) which represents the TSTT workers said, of the 468 retrenched worker, only two were still employed as their retrenchment letters were delivered late.
He said TSTT’s staff has been reduced significantly with just around 600 workers remaining. “Right now, the number of workers would be just over 600 with around 200 and 250 under the union.”
Elder said the union will keep fighting for the rights of the retrenched workers. He criticised TSTT for its handling of the retrenchment exercise and its treatment of the workers.
“I would like to indicate that the company has been so woefully incompetent in this retrenchment process,” Elder said.
Elder said there also seemed to be no planning since two workers who were supposed to be retrenched were unaware, worked tirelessly and were given their notices earlier this month. He also added that the retrenchment could have been avoided without disrupting the new restructuring plan.
“This retrenchment should not have happened, it was mismanaged and mishandled.”
Contacted for comment, CEO of TSTT Lisa Agard said, “The decision to restructure TSTT and retrench employees was a difficult but necessary exercise for the survival of the company. It meant having to say farewell to people we care about and who have made invaluable contributions to the company and its evolution.”
Lisa Agard
She added in a WhatsApp response to Newsday, “As CEO, this aspect of the exercise is not lost on me. In spite of the difficult economic circumstances facing the company, we offered competitive severance packages. Additionally, counselling and financial education services were available to assist employees in dealing with the realities of retrenchment and making the best decisions about their financial future.”
Both Elder and Agard thanked the workers for the skills, time and effort they would have contributed to TSTT.
On May 31, TSTT had announced its plan to restructure the company in attempt to keep the company afloat. TSTT retrenched around 700 workers in 2018 due to complaints of $478 million financial loss and “high employee costs.”
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Tricia Springer, mother of Tristan “Ratty” Springer, is comforted by a friend during his funeral at the basketball court, Second Caledonia Road, Morvant on Saturday. – AYANNA KINSALE
The police lied about everything.
That was the bold claim of Tricia Springer at the funeral of her son, Tristan “Ratty” Springer, 24, who was killed by police officers on July 2 while still in his bed at Cipriani Avenue, Second Caledonia, Morvant.
Tristan’s funeral service took place on Saturday at 1 pm at the basketball court in Second Caledonia, and he was buried at the Tunapuna Public Cemetery. No uniformed police or marked vehicles were seen in the area.
At the service, mourners were dressed in t-shirts printed with images of Tristan and gathered under two tents set up for them as the rain fell during the ceremony. Others stood or sat on the periphery, smoking what appeared to be marijuana and drinking alcohol, waiting for the blue and red casket to be opened so they could view their friend.
After the service, some mourners crowded around the casket while dancehall music blared from a truck set up with speakers nearby. None seemed startled as multiple gunshots rang out as Tristan was saluted by young men, many of whom were dressed in white vests and three-quarter pants. They quickly picked up and pocketed the bullet casings which scattered around them.
Tyrika Bartholomew, sister of Tristan “Ratty ” Springer, views his body during his funeral at the basketball court, Second Caledonia Road, Morvant on Saturday. – AYANNA KINSALE
At one point during the service, the mother of Tristan’s first child insisted on seeing the body and flipped opened the casket’s lid. Springer became incensed, insisting that she wait until the service was completed, and they began to shout and curse each other even as the pastor and some other mourners tried to bring calm.
Tears ran down their faces even as they shouted at each other, and fellow mourners held them back while trying to de-escalate the situation.
After things calmed down, a friend of Tristan, Cindy-Ann Jackson, described him as “a general” and an amazing man who was always willing and eager to help. She said he always wanted better for himself and his three daughters, each for a different woman. And that he wanted to improve himself and had plans to open businesses.
“No one should judge anyone because everybody are sinners in God eyes.”
His uncle spoke about Tristan’s love for football saying he was a Chelsea fan, and recalled a relative telling them if someone ever hit them, they should hit back. His aunt spoke about his concern for his friends and his love for his daughters. And his sister, Tyrika Bartholomew, recalled how protective he was of her and his family.
According a police report, officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force executed a search warrant for firearms and ammunition at Tristan’s home around 5.45am on July 2. The officers entered the house and went to a bedroom where they saw Tristan on a bed with a teenager. According to the police, the officers called out, Tristan pointed a gun at them, and they opened fire.
On the Beyond the Tape programme on TV6 on July 4, Supt Roger Alexander said police went to execute a warrant and Tristan he emerged with a gun. Alexander said the officers fired at him as they believed he was going to kill them. He later died at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.
Explaining what she heard from eyewitnesses, Springer told Sunday Newsday the police’s version conflicted with the account of people in the village. She said even the time her son was killed was wrong as the incident occurred closer to 6.30 am.
She claimed her son was asleep on the bed with a young woman when six officers entered the house. One stayed in the front bedroom pointing a gun at the owner of the house, another was pointing a gun at another occupant in the living room, and four officers went to her son’s bedroom where they kicked down the door and pulled the woman off the bed.
She said the police called out, “Get up, come to me!” and “a barrage of shots” was heard.
“The next thing you know is that they toting my son. They bring him out in the yard and rest him down like a dog and leave him to bleed out. Only then they brought him down the hill to the road and put him in the van.
“From what the people who was there, who followed the police vehicle said, they stopped by every single traffic light before they carried my son to the hospital. They leave my son to dead.”
Springer was told the police went looking for her son around 10 pm the previous night, but he was not at home. But the man who was present claimed the police said to tell “Ratty” they were “coming for him.”
Tristan “Ratty” Springer who was shot dead by police at Second Caledonia, Morvant on July 2. –
The mother claimed police had been asking about a piece of paper in the days after his death and connected him to a home invasion in Ellerslie Park, Maraval where three safes had been stolen recently.
“I don’t know what the paper is, I knows nothing about nothing because my son, whatever he was up to, he always kept me at bay when it came to that because he knows I not into this kind of life. He didn’t grow up in this life.”
Tristan had been in trouble with the law several times had recently been released from prison on bail after being charged with assault with intent to rob for a crime in Freeport on January 27. He was also believed to be associated with several gangs, police said.
Springer said she knew Tristan was not innocent, and would have dealt with his death if he was killed while “doing what he did” but, in this case, she said the police killed him wrongfully and she wanted justice for her son.
She said he had two lawsuits against two officers of the Morvant police station over his arrest and detention sometime before.
Springer said officers from the Police Complaints Authority had visited the scene, took some videos, did some interviews, and she claimed they too felt that “something was off.”
She said the room where her son died was very small and if her son had tried to run away as the police claimed, the whole room would have been shot up. But, she said, all the shots were directed at the bed where he was lying.
“The mattress he was lying on, it looks like a strainer. It’s just littered with holes.”
She questioned if the police version was true and a gun was found in the house, why then were the two men who were held at the house released after five days in custody without any charges.
She added that Alexander said on his programme that people in Second Caledonia were silently celebrating Tristan’s death, but all she was getting from the people in the community was love. They told her he was “like the ghetto Robin Hood” who helped everyone.
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Former CEO of Tourism Trinidad Kurtis Rudd who was appointed September 20, 2021. – Photo courtesy Tourism Trinidad
TOURISM Trinidad Ltd (TTL) has fired its CEO Kurtis Rudd after just ten months on the job.
Rudd who admitted this was his “dream job” was last night weighing his legal options.
He is the third CEO to be appointed in the company’s short history.
His predecessors were Camille Campbell and Heidi Alert. Neither of the three were ever confirmed in the position.
Alert acted in the position from 2019 to 2021 and returned to her substantive post as manager, Destination Development making way for Rudd. She acted in her substantive post for a short time after but her managerial contract was not renewed and she subsequently left the company.
Sources claimed Rudd’s termination had to do with differences between himself and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell over the awarding of contracts and his reported failure to comply with instructions.
Mitchell did not answer several calls to his cellphone on Saturday, neither did he reply to a WhatsApp message seeking comment on the firing of the CEO, on whom the post-covid turnaround of the tourism industry was pegged..
There was no confirmation either of a new appointee or acting CEO and no notice of Rudd’s termination was announced by the company.
Newsday understands the termination letter signed by chairman of the board Cliff Hamilton was handed to Rudd on June 27, but went into effect on June 30. The Board hires and fires.
Rudd confirmed his status.
“I did not resign. I can confirm I was terminated. I believe it was unjustified. I am exploring my options so I really do not want to say anything right now that would compromise my situation.”
Asked if any warning was given that the Board was dissatisfied with his performance, Rudd would not budge from his response.
On September 20, 2021, Rudd, was appointed in this company’s short four-year history, was welcomed with open arms as a marketing veteran with over 25 years of senior management.
He was plunged into the deep end at the time as top managerial positions were left vacant as contracts for corporate secretary and manager, legal services, strategy and marketing manager, destination development and chief financial officer, were not renewed.
In a release two days after his appointment, the company said in a period when the tourism sector was facing its greatest challenges due to the pandemic, Rudd with his extensive marketing, strategic communication expertise, was poised to re-energise the island’s tourism economy post covid19.
He was quoted as saying this was his dream job and was looking forward to working with the ministry and all stakeholders in shaping and driving the tourism sector’s agenda to achieve long term sustainability and inclusive growth.
Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell –
Rudd, a former Prestige Holdings marketing vice-president, officially started work on September 20 taking over from Alert who reverted to her substantive post as manager of destination development.
He has also served as a senior lecturer at UWI-Roytec and a Fatima College alumnus, and holds an MBA in General Management from Henley Management College.
Rudd was touted as being able to “re-energise the island’s tourism economy through this most difficult period in history, unite the sector, and define a clear path for the safe restart of international travel,” according to a release from the company announcing his appointment.
In turn, he said he was proud to join the “talented Tourism Trinidad team” whose goal is to promote “the unique and extraordinary tourism assets of our island to the rest of the world.”
“We are at a critical moment in the development of Trinidad’s tourism industry, and we need the strategic collaboration of the private and public sector to take advantage of the market opportunities ahead and move out of this pandemic,” said Rudd then.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the board of directors, led by Cliff Hamilton. We are fortunate to have someone of his calibre and global tourism experience to lead the organisation.
In September 2021,Hamilton replaced former government minister Howard Chin Lee as chariman and the othermembers of the board Natania Mack (deputy chairman), Avalaughn Huggins, Shezrae Nesbitt, Terrance Bhagwatsingh, Lesley-Ann Assee, Brian Lewis, Devon Seale, and Shivana Inalsingh were reappointed to serve for two more years.
The tourism industry reopened on April 4 after almost two years, but before Rudd could initiate his action plan, the axe fell on him.
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Defending women’s 100m World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had the fastest qualifying time of the four Jamaicans through to the semi-finals, three of whom won their heats, at the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
Fraser-Pryce cruised to 10.87s in her heat and is looking to add a fifth 100m World title to her impressive collection.
Shericka Jackson, who won both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaica National Trials in June, was also impressive as she strolled to 11.02s to win her heat.
Shericka Jackson (right) won her heats in 11.02s. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah also had a lot left in the tank as she bounced to victory in her heat in 11.15s.
The other Jamaican, Kemba Nelson, who finished third at the Jamaica trials, was third in her heat in 11.10s and also advanced to the semi-final round.
The semi-finals and final will be run on day three, Sunday, and Jamaica is holding its collective breath that the trio of Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah and Jackson can repeat the podium sweep they had at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics.
Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah looked impressive in her win. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
The Jamaicans will have to work overtime, however, to repeat the feat and Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith has signalled that she intends to be on the medal podium. She laid down a blistering season’s best 10.84s to win her heats.
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EUGENE, Oregon: After another tough result at a major championship, 32-year-old sprinter Yohan Blake didn’t make himself available for an interview after failing to advance out of a semifinal heat in the men’s 100m on day two of the 2022 World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field on Saturday.
“Not in the mood,” Blake told Loop News in the mixed zone. When pressed further, the 2011 world champion, who won silver at the 2012 Olympics, said he would make himself available after a change of clothes before walking into the post-event control room.
He was noticed speaking to himself and shaking his head while looking at a monitor inside the post-evet control room before making his exit.
Blake finished his semifinal race in fourth place in a time of 10.12 seconds, 23 days after he turned back the clock at the Jamaica trials to win the 100m in 9.85 seconds, his best time since 2012, when he beat Usain Boltat the Olympic Trials, took second to Bolt at the Olympics and became the second-fastest man in history at age 22.
His time of 10.12 seconds was the ninth fastest in a field of 23 competitors, meaning that he just failed to secure the eighth and final spot for the medal round.
It was the second straight time that Blake failed to click in a global championship. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was staged in 2021, Blake also failed to qualify for the final after clocking 10.14 seconds to finish sixth in a semifinal heat.
Yohan Blake’s countryman, the promising 20-year-old Ackeem Blake is also out after finishing fourth behind inform USA sprinter Fred Kerley in the second semi-final heat.
Kerley, who ran a sensational heat-winning 9.79 seconds in round one on Friday, came through the semifinal with ease in 10.02 seconds. Ackeem Blake clocked 10.19 seconds.
Oblique Seville will be the lone Jamaica in the final, which is scheduled for later tonight. Seville won his semifinal race in 9.90, the quickest time going into the final at 9:50 pm Jamaica time.
Kerley led a quartet of US sprinters into the final. Marvin Bracy (9.93), Trayvon Bromell (9.97), and defending champion Christian Coleman (10.05).
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World Champs: Wayne Pinnock 9th in long jump final
World Champs: Adelle Tracey out of 1500m final
World Champs: USA sweep podium of 100m final; Ja Seville finishes 4th
Blake avoids media after failing to qualify for 100 final in Oregon
World Champs: Oblique Seville only J’can through to men’s 100m final
Trainer Ian Parsard takes spotlight in Caymanas co-features
World Champs: Fraser-Pryce leads 4 Jamaican women into 100m semis
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60 minutes ago
Jamaica’s Adelle Tracey (in yellow top) failed to qualify for the 1500m at the World Atheltic Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA as she finished in a time of 4:06.96. (AP photo)
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Adelle Tracey failed to advance to the final of the 1500m at the Eugene, World Athletics Championships after finishing 9th in her semifinal in a time of 4:06.96.
Tracey needed to have placed no lower than fifth to advance to the final.
Her semifinal time was slower than the 4:05.14 she ran to place sixth in the heats.
The race was won by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegun in 4:05.98 while Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha was second in 4:04.05 and Sinclaire Johnson of the United States third in 4:04.51.
The 29-year-old Tracey who will also contest the 800m, is wearing the Jamaican colours for the first time.
She is the daughter of Jamaica College quarter miler Nicholas Tracey and a British mother.
2022 staging in Oregon to offer largest prize purse ever
Five-time Olympic champion and the fastest woman alive, Elaine Thompson-Herah, has signed with Global sports brand PUMA.
The 30-year-old Jamaican is set to boost the company’s roster of track and
Criminal fled after realizing what was happening
See below Saturday’s schedule for Jamaica’s athletes at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The schedule is in Jamaica time
12:30 pm: Women’s Triple Jump Qualificati
The young Jamaican is looking to add aggression to her jumps when she competes in the final
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Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock finished ninth in the final of the men’s long jump at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
Pinnock, who is representing Jamaica at his first senior championships, had a best jump of 7.88m. It was shorter than the 7:98m mark he laid down on Friday to qualify for the final.
He was the only Jamaican to advance to the final as the defending World champion, Tajay Gayle, who is injured, did not register a legal mark on Friday, thus relinquishing his title.
Danniel Thomas-Dodd participates in the shot put field event during the World Athletic Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, July 16. (Photo: Marlon Reid)
Meanwhile, China’s Jianan Wang claimed the gold on his last jump, a season’s best 8.36m. Greece’s Miltiadas Tentoglou, who led from the start, was second with 8.32m and Simon Ehammer of Switzerland was third with 8.16m.
Meanwhile, the women’s shot put silver medallist from Doha, Qatar, 2019, Danniel Thomas-Dodd could only manage 10th place in the finals on Saturday, with a mark of 18.29m.
It is Thomas-Dodd’s worst finish at a World Championships.
She had qualified for the final with a throw of 19.09m.
The gold medal was won by Chase Ealy of the United States with a 20.49m mark. Ealy dethroned the defending champion, China’s Lijiao Gong, who registered a season’s best mark of 20.39m for the silver.
Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands was third in a national record of 19.77m.
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In this file photo, Lincoln Alexander buys bread at Viewport Supermarket in Scarborough, Tobago. Bread is among the foods which have increased in price. – David Reid
Trade union leaders have claimed no attempt is being made by the government to address the rising cost of living in the country.
National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) general secretary Michael Annisette said on Friday he recently read an article which stated that Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley is looking at measures to mitigate the impact of the high cost of living on the island’s citizens by offering substantial relief to the people of her country.
“Why is it that this government cannot do that?” he asked.
“Why is it that this government is so arrogant that they do not even want to engage the trade union movement in those kinds of discussions that is necessary as has been done by the chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly?”
Annisette added, “That is one of the fundamental issues by this government – the arrogance, insensitivity and the belief that they are omnipotent. They know everything and there is no need to consult with the labour movement other than their financiers and the business elite.”
He said if the government is serious about developing, it cannot continue to operate in this way.
Annisette was speaking to reporters after he and other trade union representatives delivered a copy of the labour movement’s no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister and government to THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine at the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex, Scarborough.
During the Labour Day observance on June 19, trade union leaders announced that a no-confidence motion against the Rowley-led administration was approved by the labour movement and that copies of the resolution would be delivered to the President Paula-Mae Weekes, Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Senate President Christine Kangaloo, Caricom chair President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and THA Chief Secretary.
The labour movement also held at motorcade on July 10 from Sangre Grand to Port of Spain to highlight its dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.
Annisette, referring to the government’s four per cent wage offer to public sector workers for eight years, said negotiations for other employees of statutory boards and other government agencies have not yet begun.
“I am advised that the CPO (Dr Darryl Dindial) is sick but there was a commitment that on July 14 we would have started those negotiations.”
He said negotiations are outstanding for workers at Public Service Transport Corporation, Port Authority, TTPost, Lake Asphalt, Water and Sewerage Authority, Telecommunications Services of TT, TT Electricity Commission and other bodies.
“We are all affected by the delay in the negotiations which has been outstanding for as much as 12 years and in some instances, as long as 2007. And we are expected to produce and continue to live comfortably in those circumstances where everyone knows that cost of living is extremely high.”
Annisette, who is also the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union’s president general, said all the trade union movement wants is for the standard of living of workers in this country to rise.
“It must not be stagnated and the offer of the four per cent and two per cent was an offer of stagnation of workers’ ability to buy goods and services which is critical for the very economy of TT.”
Joint Trade Union Movement leader Ancel Roget said the hour-long meeting with Augustine was productive.
“We had some very productive and meaningful discussions around all of the issues, namely the rising cost of living and food prices in Tobago and in Trinidad and what can be done to mitigate that.”
“The Chief Secretary seems to be seized with a good understanding of all of the issues. But not just understanding but where we should go from here going forward. And therefore we’re committed to having more meaningful and deeper discussions aimed at improving the lives of Tobagonians and Trinidadians, all our citizens, especially where it concerns the rising cost of living and food prices.”
Roget claimed the labour movement has had overwhelming support from citizens in relation to the issues confronting the country.
“We have had two motorcades so far. We are coming to Tobago with a motorcade. I am not at liberty to say when that will be. But rest assured that struggle will take us across the length and breadth of both Trinidad and Tobago because it is all about ensuring and demanding proper governance for the people and that is what we are not getting right now.”
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