By Alicia Chamely
THE People’s National Movement (PNM) Opposition has set up a hotline for persons who believe they are being politically victimized by the new government.
This was revealed on Monday by Opposition Leader-Elect Penelope Beckles at a press conference held at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Charles Street, Port-of-Spain.
Addressing the issue of firings happening in various ministries, especially against those hired under the previous government, Beckles said the PNM had set up a hotline for those who thought their jobs were in danger or had witnessed the firing of persons for political reasons.
Beckles said through the hotline the opposition had been informed that persons from several ministries had been fired under the new government.
She said, “It has come to our attention in several ministries people are reporting, because we have now established a hotline for persons to call, we are getting information that is important to us as it related to those decisions because we know in the public domain that the mantra of the United National Congress has been ‘when the UNC wins everybody wins.’.”
Beckles said those who have utilised the hotline where there had been firings were in a panic as this appears to be “the practice of the UNC.”
The issue of government workers being fired by the government was first brought up by Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi, who alleged workers and contractors for government entities such as the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the Rural Development Company (RDC) were being targeted and the public could expect mass layoffs.
Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath denied this at a post-cabinet press briefing on 5 June at the Red House, stating that CEPEP and other government programmes were used as a “feeding trough” for the family, friends and financiers of PNM.
Padarath said the government was currently in the process of reviewing all contracts and programmes and rejected all accusations of politically motivated firings.
Both Beckles and Al-Rawi encouraged members of the public who may feel as though their jobs are at stake to contact the hotline.
