PRESS RELEASE :

The President General of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and Political Leader of the National Solidarity Assembly, Mr. Nirvan Maharaj is calling on the former Prime Minister Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Political Leader of the United National Congress to do the right thing from a moral and ethical perspective and withdraw her quest for continuing leadership of the United National Congress and in the highest tradition of the West Minister System and accepted convention, to immediately resign as the member of Parliament for Siparia.

We do believe that after having lost five (5) elections in a row, reducing her parliamentary majority from twenty-nine (29) seats to eighteen (18) seats, abandoning her supporters in there darkest hour on election night and failing to bring resolution to the issues affecting Ex-employees of Caroni (1975) Limited and Cane Farmers, she has no other choice but to resign from all positions held.

Though the United National Congress internal elections are no longer our business, we do believe as former supporters and foundation members of the party, being one of the children that the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union gave birth to, together with the National Solidarity Assembly, we have a right and a duty to comment on any issues that adversely affect our children.

Though we are charting our own path as the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and the National Solidarity Assembly, we cannot stand idly and see one of our children destroyed by the megalomaniacal tendencies of a leader seemingly out of touch with reality and suffering from delusions of grandeur.

In the Interest of good governance and strong civil society organisation it is our duty to comment.

Yours sincerely,

NIRVAN MAHARAJ 

(ATTORNEY-AT-LAW)

PRESIDENT GENERAL,

ALL TRINIDAD GENERAL WORKERS’ TRADE UNION

POLITICAL LEADER

NATIONAL SOLIDARITY ASSEMBLY

All Trinidad queries agri $$ Budget cut

Thursday, October 8 2015

link : http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,218174.html

THE All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU) has expressed concern over the reduction in budgetary allocation to the Agricultural sector from $1.5 billion in 2014/2015 to $831 million in the 2015/2016. In a media statement yesterday, the union noted that Monday’s budget presentation was a balancing act by Finance Minister Colm Imbert to, “satisfy the need for political expediency while stabilising the economy.”

“Indeed the budget seems to be an attempt to sanitize excessive spending, increase revenue and consolidate the economy from a holistic perspective,” the union stated, before noting that a 37-percent reduction to the Ministry of Agriculture would not lead to an expansion of the sector. 

“It is indeed contradictory to speak of a strong, modern, prosperous and competitive agricultural sector while reducing the allocations necessary to make this possible. We hold the hope that the budget, be not necessarily hard and fast provisions to be implemented, but instead proposals of policies that may or may not be implemented as unforeseen circumstances may dictate, the Government will see it fit to revise the allocation to the agricultural sector, after careful investigation into the true needs into the sector, not from a theoretical perspective but from a practical perspective,” the union stated. 

The union also reminded Prime Minister Keith Rowley, of his election campaign promises to deal with outstanding issues affecting the ex-employees of Caroni 1975 Ltd which include outstanding leases for residential and agricultural lots. “We are therefore calling on the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable Minister of Finance to make the necessary revisions in the allocation of funding so as to bring these long outstanding issues to an end. It must be remembered that these are not gifts or handouts but are indeed outstanding provisions of the VESP Package owed to the Ex-employees of Caroni (1975) Limited and also an order of the High Court as per the Deyalsingh Judgment of 2007,” the union stated. “The Prime Minister has a golden opportunity to cross the political divide to rise above the politics of separation to learn of the mistakes of the past, to fulfil his campaign promise and by so doing become one of the best prime ministers this country has ever seen,” the union stated.  

Time to move on Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar; united and together for the elections are over

The All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and The National Solidarity Assembly is calling on the Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Kamla Persad Bissessar to accept, precedent as all other Prime Minister’s would have done before her and also honour the results of the General Elections of 2015. We are also calling on the Former Prime Minister to cease and desist from pursuing a frivolous and vexatious court action and allow the nation to move on with a change of Government with peaceful transition, especially in light of the fact that the PNM did not only win the 23 seats but also won the popular vote.

The Former Prime Minister seems to be unable to grasp that the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago is the supreme law of the land and will over-ride any subsidiary piece of legislation passed by Parliament. It is a concept in which is implied, that in a subsidiary piece of legislation nothing could be theoretically incompatible or inconsistent with the Constitution. The Constitution gives the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) the unfettered right to conduct elections and ensure citizens have the right to vote and do what is necessary to ensure that right. 

Section 71(8) of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago gives the Commission the right to regulate its own procedure and Section 71 (12) also indicates that the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. 

The Former Prime Minister must be careful not to engage in any action that will further inflict a feeling of indignity on her own supporters, further heightened as she did on election night by the total disdain and contempt faced by UNC Supporters when she failed to show up to address, motivate and comfort her supporters in their darkest hour and in their greatness despair. It was indeed the final insult to her supporters who waited in vain for their Leader to show, but to no avail. 

The country must move on, united and together for the elections are over.
Yours sincerely,

Nirvan Maharaj (Attorney at Law)
President General (ATGWTU)
Political Leader (NSA)
3rd Vice President (NATUC)

Congratulations to Dr. Keith Rowley on his ascension to the office Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago.

Press Release :

The All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and the National Solidarity Assembly extend its sincerest congratulations to Dr. Keith Rowley on his ascension to the office Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

We commend the Prime Minister elect, on his determination, strength and fortitude in not only winning the last Local Elections, the Tobago House of Assembly Elections, the St. Joseph By-Elections and the General Elections of 2015 but having done so, moved the People’s National Movement from 12 seats to 23 seats in parliament.

We look forward to working with the Prime Minister elect, in an amicable and diplomatic manner towards resolving the outstanding issues affecting Ex-Caroni Workers, Cane Farmers, those involved in the agricultural sector including livestock, farming, fishing, tenants of Caroni Land and squatters throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

We are confident with the passage of time; your leadership through the collective efforts of your entire Government would maintain the unity, strength, dignity and unwavering determination for the continued development of Trinidad and Tobago.

We wish the Prime Minister elect all the best in his tenure-ship for the next five years and do believe that once the mistakes of the past and of past Prime Ministers are not repeated by Dr. Keith Rowley, the new Prime Minister elect, has the opportunity to perhaps make himself, one of the best Prime Minister Trinidad and Tobago has ever seen and in that context, we take opportunity to wish you and the Government a productive and fruitful term in office and a deepening of the relationship with the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union.

Yours sincerely,
Nirvan Maharaj (Attorney at Law)
President General (ATGWTU)
Political Leader (NSA)
3^rd Vice President (NATUC)

Signing of the Sugarcane Feeds Centre Collective Agreement

Signing of the Sugarcane Feeds Centre Collective Agreement

Photo Album : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.876005579137002.1073741843.360439284026970&type=3

PRESS RELEASE

The All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union wishes to offer it’s sincerest condolences to Member of Parliament for Couva-South, Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh and his family on the passing away of his father Mr. Bissoon Indarsingh also called Ben. Ben was a stalwart of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union acting as President of the Caroni Section, shop steward and after he retired he became a life member of the Union.
 

Mr. Bissoon Indarsingh was a solider in the struggle to ensure that Sugar Workers received their just due in the economic battles of the past. As a leader he was firm and unflinching in his duty to his Union and the people of the section that he led.

Go in peace our Brother, you will be sorely missed.

Yours sincerely,

__________________________
Nirvan Maharaj

President General

Press Release : Mora Valley Farm

The All Trinidad General Worker's Trade Union and the workers of Mora Valley Farm in Rio Claro are Tobago calling on the Chief Personnel Officer and by extension the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, to immediately begin the process of expediting negotiations for the employees of Mora Valley Farm for the outstanding period 2011-2013.

In addition we are also calling on the Government to immediately pay outstanding wages and outstanding annual leave payments for periods ranging from 2006-2013.

We are also asking the Government to immediately implement decisions taken in cabinet minute number 1854-2013/07/03, Note no (13) 143.

1. That the expenditure to be incurred in respect of the payment of gratuity be met from the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Finance and the Economy ( Pension Division ), and

2. That the Ministry of Food Production take steps to regularize the status of the contract staff beyond 2013.

These decisions shave not been implemented and as such the Government in a high handed and unjustified manner is also attempting to negotiate with these workers as if they are contract workers.

We are saying that these workers have suffered too long and the issues of the workers of the Farm must be dealt with immediately. It must never be forgotten that up till a few months ago there are workers who worked for years at this Farm without having access to sick leave, casual leave, over time and who were also paid below the minimum wage. There were people who worked for 12 hours and were only paid for eight. There are several health and safety issues together with a shortage of relevant staff and temporary workers who have been at the Farm for many years and to whom they turn for guidance and directions.

We are calling on the Government to end the suffering of the workers of Mora Valley Farm, remove them from the state of limbo that they exist in and simply give them their just due.

Your sincerely

__________________________
Nirvan Maharaj
President General - ATGWTU