Caption: People at Charlie King Junction in Fyzabad on Thursday. Photo: Facebook
By Sue-Ann Wayow
in Fyzabad
DESPITE the drenching showers of rain, thousands marched through the streets of Fyzabad on Thursday in solidarity with each other for Labour Day.
The early morning activities began at the gravesite of labour leader Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler at Apex Cemetery in Fyzabad with homage being paid to the Spiritual Baptist preacher who led the Labour Riots of 1937 and who has been immortalised as the founder of the trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago.
Officiating the wreath laying ceremony were Reverand Bishop Victor Phillip of the Shouter Baptist Mission of Faith and Reverand Elias Dick of the Baptist Union Trinidad and Tobago.
They were joined by President of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder and other union representatives and leaders.
Wearing an Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) jersey, Elder – previously secretary general of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) was actively involved in the celebrations from beginning to end.
At that ceremony, Roget in a brief statement said the struggle for workers was not over and unions will continue to fight until there was quality and food for all.
@azpnews.com Laying the final wreath on the bust of labour leader Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler at Apex Cemetery Fyzabad on Thursday. Video: Sue-Ann Wayow @jtum_tt @oilfields.workers labourday wreathlayingceremony uriahbutler celebrations #fyzabad
Unions participated in the wreath-laying ceremony first, before proceeding to lay wreaths at the La Brea Charles monument in Fyzabad. The final wreath was placed by Roget at the Butler statue at Charlie King Junction.
With umbrellas up and raincoats on, the police presence was felt along the entire way from Avocat Junction to Charlie King Junction especially when Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro showed up.
Some of unions represented were: the OWTU, CWU, Public Services Association (PSA), National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGWU), Banking Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), Steel Workers Union (SWU), Trinidad and Tobago Postal Workers’ Union (TTPWU), Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nursing Association (TTRNA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Farmers Association.
During the march they were joined by Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, Minister in the Ministry of Energy Ernesto Kesar, Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowalth and others. Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste was also present.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met up with the crowd at Charlie King Junction. Only Basdeo Panday was the other PM to speak at Labour Day in Fyzabad.
Roget delivered the keynote address and Persad-Bissessar also gave greetings.
Persad-Bissessar told workers, she was one of them.
“I am not the one per cent. I am one of you. I have come just like you from the working class. I understand what it is because I have been there, done that. I have been there with my family, with my parents, like yours who worked really hard.”
She repeated, “I am one of you! And you are one of me!”
Persad-Bissessar encouraged the crowd to raise their hands and give thanks to God, pledging again to work together to rescue Trinidad and Tobago.
She ended her remarks with the unions’ tagline “forward ever, backward never.”
Roget spent some time speaking about the set of reforms set out by government designed to improving workers’ rights, benefits and protections as the foundation of a broader Workers’ Agenda.
This also includes a campaign promise by Persad-Bissessar that all outstanding wage negotiations will be settled starting at no less than 10 per cent.
