THE People’s National Movement says it is disgusted by the “offensive outburst” of President of the Public Services Association Watson Duke.
Duke has since apologised for his use of the N word during a news conference at the PSA office in Port-of-Spain on Monday when he urged public servants not to vote for the PNM in the December 2, Local Government Elections.
In a released on Tuesday, the PNM stated:
“The PNM and the rest of our decent nation are truly disgusted by Watson Duke’s latest offensive outburst which he delivered whilst pretending to be representing Public Servants, as he self-servingly tries to assist the UNC in the upcoming Local Government elections.
“As he describes Afro-Trinidadians in the most offensive way, he makes the misleading claim that workers across the Public Service have been ignored since 2013 and have been disrespected by this Government.
“The record will show that, in a period of national, financial emergency this PNM Government paid $6 billion dollars in backpay to Public Servants in all categories.
“This money, promised by a previous Government, was not available, so the PNM had to borrow the funds in order to make these contracted liabilities.
“Public Servants are reminded that the only place of employment where workers associated with the Public Service are known to be disrespected and oppressed are at the PSA headquarters where Mr. Duke reigns whilst denying the membership access to free and fair elections, and where employees have consistently had to resort to the court to have their rights and benefits protected.
“It should come as no surprise that this vulgar appeal of Watson Duke, in support of the UNC, comes immediately after a recent meeting between him and UNC officials and sympathisers at a Port-of-Spain restaurant.”
