By Prior Beharry
PRESIDENT Paula-Mae Weekes is to get a document on Friday stating that the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) has no confidence in Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
She is one of a number of high officials who will get the “motion of no confidence” on Friday. It will also be delivered to Senate President Christine Kangaloo, Speaker of the House of Representatives Bridgid Annisette-George and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
President of JITUM Ancel Roget raised the Motion of No Confidence in Rowley at Labour Day Celebrations at Charlie King Junction in Fyzabad on Sunday. It was the first such celebration in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Roget said, “Having passed this motion of no confidence in the leadership of Dr Rowley as Prime Minister and his administration, here in the Workers’ Parliament, Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad on Labour Day today, June 19, in the year of our Lord 2022. This motion just cannot stay here. And, therefore, on your behalf, we are going to deliver this motion to the following prominent and high offices.”
Roget said the motion was brought because the government has oversaw the retrenchment of thousands of workers under the guise of restructuring state enterprises. It will be delivered on Friday.
Part of the motion stated: “Whereas the Government continues to demonise and systematically remove well-paying jobs, totally eradicating any hope for our children to aspire to a well-paying job now and in the future.
“And whereas, the government insist on pursuing a policy of economic tyranny with no consultation and fully embracing the contracting out of permanent jobs,”
The union leader said the government also let steel company ArcelorMittal close down and sent home workers.
The motion also claimed that the Government planned to fire workers at the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NP), Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC), Board of Inland Revenue, National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS), Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC), the Solid Waste Management Company Ltd (SWMCOL) and Lake Asphalt (1978) Ltd.
Roget said the government launched an attack on the middle class with many workers now in contract positions without job security.
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He said the aim was to make people work for subsistence wages with no terms and conditions, pension plan, medical plan, paid leave and provisions for health and safety.
Roget said, “They never had a plan, and while they were red, they were never ready. The objective was only to get into government and take control of the State.
“Take control of the State, not in your interest, but the interest of the 1% and their financiers.
“That is why we are now experiencing the most uncaring, incompetent, and arrogant government this country has ever seen.”
He said companies continued to make massive profits although the government blames Covid-19 for the state of the economy.
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Roget listed profits from some companies including Guardian Holdings Limited with $179 million in profits in the first quarter of 2022.
He said Massy Holdings made $326.8 million for the first half of 2022.
Roget noted that First Citizen had an after-tax profit of $355 million first half of 2022 while Republic Bank made $1.37 billion in profit in 2021 and $728.7 million in just half of 2022.
He said ANSA Merchant Bank declared a $360 million profit in 2021 and Angostura with $158 million profit.
