Caption: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles
‘We cannot allow this government to continue to bully the people of Trinidad and Tobago and continue to make you feel that you dotish’ – Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles
By Sue-Ann Wayow
OPPOSITION leader Pennelope Beckles is calling for an immediate reinstatement of the terminated Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) workers.
She made the call at a People’s National Movement (PNM) public meeting at the Central PNM Office in Chaguanas on Saturday night.
Beckles questioned the love Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar claims she has for citizens saying the prime minister could not possibly love the workers who depended on their regular wages to feed their families.
Referring to the dismissal of CEPEP contractors and other workers, Beckles asked, “If it is that the honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar really loved the people of Trinidad and Tobago, do you think she would have sent home almost 20,000 workers?… That is not love. That is abuse.”
She said, “To the people of Trinidad and Tobago, not only are they using you but they are taking advantage.”
Beckles said “We demand reinstatement of the CEPEP workers. You must give us a full account as to how and why these terminations were executed so swiftly after an election.”
Beckles has been advocating for the reinstatement of the CEPEP workers since last week, meeting with contractors, offering legal advice and also meeting with those who protested outside the Parliament on Friday during the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She also advised PNM supporters to remain extremely vigilant in their communities and on the ground.
“We cannot allow this government to continue to bully the people of Trinidad and Tobago and continue to make you feel that you dotish,” Beckles said.
She also spoke in defence of the independent senators who have been labelled as “PNM senators” by the United National Congress (UNC).
Beckles referred to the Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill that was recently passed in both Houses of Parliament.
“Once they got the impression that the independent senators were going to vote against that Bill, they immediately started to attack them.”
She said, “Once they believe you are not supporting them, they go against you.”
PM desecrated the Constitution
Member of Parliament for Arouca/Lopinot Marvin Gonzales rebuked the prime minister from the platform saying she has desecrated the Constitution which she took her oath of office on.
He said, “The Constitution guarantees the right of every single citizen to join any political party of their choice and just two months in office, you have already started the process of desecrating the very Constitution that you have taken an oath of office and we rebuke you here in Chaguanas.”
Again referring to the sacked workers, he said it was a fight for social justice not just a political fight.
He called on all non governmental organisations to lock arms with the PNM to fight for the workers.
Other speakers included MPs, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Faris Al Rawi and Keith Scotland.
Al-Rawi listed out all who lost their jobs in the past two months since government changed.
They include as listed out by Al-Rawi:
· 11,000 CEPEP workers
· 4,700 forestry workers
· 140 from rural development
· 900 from one regional health authority
· 700 Covid-19 workers whose contracts were not renewed
· 400 WASA field workers
· WASA head of management
· Governor of the Central Bank
“Nearly 20,000 people with their necks politically cut, their blood flowing on the streets, none of them have a future tomorrow where they know there will be income,” Al-Rawi said.
