By Sue-Ann wayow
OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles is promising that the People’s National Movement (PNM) will do everything in its power to repair, restore, and strengthen its relationship with the labour movement.
On Thursday, as the nation celebrated Labour Day, she remembered her father Lionel Beckles, who was a proud leader within the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU).
She said, “For my own part, mine is family where the fight for the dignity of workers and their rights was not just a cause, it was the way of life.”
She said her father, like the great labour leaders of the past including Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler, Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani, George Weekes, Emma Francois, Adrian Rienzi Cola, Daisy Crick, Albert Gomes and others who have made an indelible mark on the labour landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, stood unwaveringly at the forefront of the struggles of workers.
“Those were lives dedicated to ensuring that those who built this nation with their hands, sweat, and spirit were treated with the dignity they deserved,” Beckles said.
She said Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago served as a powerful reminder of the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs that have in the past and that continue to define the labour movement in this country.
Beckles said, “Upon reflection of my father’s life and those others, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to continue this work and to carry forward that banner. His voice echoes in every worker’s struggle, in every call for justice, in every fight for equality. Therefore, it is with that same commitment to the working people of Trinidad and Tobago that I stand before you today, humbly and resolutely, to reaffirm my solidarity with you all.”
She admitted that many strides have been made, yet significant hurdles remained and much more needed to be done.
Beckles said, “Be assured that the PNM will do everything in its power to repair, restore, and strengthen its relationship with the labour movement. This is our homage to past and current generations, and our commitment to the future.”
To the workers, she said, “You, the working people of this country who rise and toil daily have long been the cornerstone of our economy.
Your hard work is the very foundation of our land. May we never undervalue or underestimate our workers. Together, let us truly build a nation where workers are empowered, where voices are heard, and where dreams can come true.”
