Press Release

23rd February, 2017

The President General of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and Political Leader of the National Solidarity Assembly, Mr. Nirvan Maharaj is offering full support to Mr. Liaquat Ali in his call for the Agricultural Development Bank to be made a Commercial Bank facilitating the Agricultural Sector of Trinidad and Tobago.

There is no doubt that innovative ways must be found to stimulate the Agriculture Sector in order to assist in the diversification of the Economyand allow this sector to be the foundation upon which the diversification stands, especially in light of the fact that Trinidad and Tobago imports billions of dollars of food every year.

An idea such as this can allow for a more enabling agricultural environment, with the Agricultural Development Bank, operating on the basis of profit making, but with a flexibility based social conscience and understanding of the unique circumstances our agriculturalist sometimes have to undergo, e.g. natural disasters and surplus or reduced produce etc.

This will allow our people engaged in the Agricultural Sector to escape the trapping of sometimes unimaginable Bank charges and procedures that sometimes make financial assistant to those engaged in Agriculture almost impossible, more so when Farmers are on Tenanted Lands or fall within the realm of State Lands and Caroni VESEP Lands.

The time has come to ensure that the interest of the nation, more so food security is placed above seemingly myopic narrow minded business interest, geared only towards profit maximization by any means necessary.

The idea of Mr. Ali is indeed one that should be considered by those in Authority, and after a proper logistical study is done, the necessary legislative reform be put in place to give impetus to an idea, that if properly implemented, can help stimulate economic growth, ensure food security, create employment, make agriculture attractive to the young and ease the financial constraints facing our nation.

We are therefore calling on the Minister of Agriculture to begin immediate discussions with the Minister of Finance and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that the process to give practical manifestation to this idea is dealt with in an expeditious manner.

Yours sincerely

NIRVAN MAHARAJ

(Attorney-at-Law)

President General (ATGWTU)

Political Leader (NSA)

3rd Vice President (NATUC)

Media Release

Media Release
January 31, 2017

The Political Leader of the National Solidarity Assembly (NSA) and President General of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) Nirvan Maharaj is calling on the Peoples National Movement Government and the Opposition United National Congress to rise above the pettiness of scoring cheap political points against each other and immediately join together across the table of brotherhood and in the national interest find a way to deal with the savagery and brutality of a crime scourge never before experienced in this Country.

An aura of abject fear and terror is now stalking our twin island nation state and we can no longer continue to blame each other, but instead work together for the national good. The Peoples National Movement must understand that it is no longer in Opposition but is now in charge of steering the ship of state. It can no longer continue to blame the Opposition UNC for every ill in the society since; it is the PNM who now bears the responsibility of Government and as such must be answerable as those who govern always is.

I therefore wish to openly support the call by the Leader of the Opposition for an extraordinary sitting of Parliament, in order to deal with the escalating crime situation. However, for once in our nation’s history this sitting of Parliament must not be about debate and party paramountcy and winner takes all. Instead it must be a sitting of Parliament based on the concept of a ‘National Front Parliament’- a joint and unified effort by the PNM and UNC to arrive at immediate short term, medium term and long term solutions to our crime situation. It must be a Parliament of representatives of the citizenry of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and not simply representatives of the PNM or UNC political party.

The People of this nation are utterly fed up of meaningless words, signifying nothing and crime being used as a political football. Statistics and theory cannot stop the tears and pain and misery of the victims of crime and the anguish of families who have had loved ones, murdered, robbed, raped and brutalised in the worst manner.

Our nation is under siege and we must declare a state of war on the criminals who like minions of hell plague the land. There are people who have no compassion, no feelings, no rational, no conscience, they are soulless and driven by scavenger like animalistic instinct, they will, kill, rape, rob and brutalise and torture without any remorse. These people must be removed from normal society.

We must fight fire with fire and the State must lead the charge in ensuring that every citizen is able to enjoy their constitutional right to enjoyment of property and to live in safety and security without fear or terror.

We must start by the UNC and the PNM joining together to ensure the implementation of the death penalty as a start, not necessarily as a deterrent to all crime but as a just and fitting punishment for certain deliberate and pre-mediated horrific crimes committed.
Those who have violated the human rights of innocent law abiding citizens must themselves be stripped of the right to escape fitting punishment or to continue destroying the society and the lives of law abiding citizens.

The time has also come for the Parliament to consider the Reform of our Constitution to allow after proper checks and balances for the right of our citizens to bear arms. It cannot be that we are going to allow innocent law abiding citizens to be sheep and fodder for criminals to whom the ownership of illegal firearms is a norm without fear of the law. Citizens must be given a fighting chance to defend themselves, since there cannot be a Police Officer in every home. The law cannot continue to operate to the detriment of our law abiding citizens by stripping them of the means of defending themselves.

I also agree with the Leader of the Opposition that our women, or sisters and daughters and wives and nieces and our mothers be allowed to protect themselves with Pepper Spray and Tasers. They must be given the chance to at least have a chance to escape from the human predators that seek to hunt them.

We cannot continue to sacrifice the safety of our people on misused theoretical concepts of human rights for criminals who violate the rights of others without remorse, otherwise we may very well lose our nation and the safety of our people on the altar of misguided liberalism and humanist thought. The victims of crime and the families of those murdered are the ones who know the difference between theory and the practical reality of a criminal animal.

It is no longer about human rights as much as it is about human survival especially in a society where criminals have seemingly gone mad and running wild and unchecked.

Yours sincerely
Nirvan Maharaj
(Attorney-at-Law)
President General (ATGWTU)
3rd Vice President (NATUC)

INDEPENDENCE GREETINGS

On behalf of the National Solidarity Assembly and the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, as we celebrate fifty-four years of Independence.

As a nation we have achieved much in terms of infrastructural, political, economic, social and cultural development. Our people have accomplished so many great achievements in the realm of sports, science, law, education, music, social sciences and the humanities, that Trinidad and Tobago is now a household name in many parts of the world.

We must always, in order to positively move forward, reflect on and learn from the struggles of the past and the sacrifices of our forefathers as they carved out a place not only for themselves but for us, in this land that is Trinidad and Tobago.

Fifty-four years after Independence let us continue to work together to construct a nation built on the principle of unity in diversity. Let us continue to strive to develop the will, the determination and the process necessary to increase the patriotism and nationalism necessary to bind us as a people and so truly to become one nation, one people that is Trinidad and Tobago.

I thank you.

Yours sincerely,

………………………………………..

Nirvan Maharaj (Attorney-at-Law)

Political Leader (NSA)

President General (ATGWU)

3rd Vice President (NATUC)

Unemployment Bureau

Media Release

August 22nd, 2016

The All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union wishes to advise the National Community of the opening of its Unemployment Bureau from Monday 22nd August, 2016.

The Union is offering this service free of charge, in order to help alleviate the plight of unemployed persons and those who have been retrenched.

All interested individuals are asked to deliver a copy of their Resume/CV at the Union’s office located at the Rienzi Complex, Exchange Village, Couva or telephone 636-2354 for further information. After which these individuals will be contacted as soon as possible when positions arise within the Companies serviced by the Union as well as others seeking Employees.

The Union believes that the role of Trade Unions must also include addressing the concerns of those individuals within our society who are unemployed and actively seeking employment.

The Unemployment Bureau will be headed by Mr. Rajindra Mohan, General Secretary of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, who can be contacted at the above mentioned telephonenumber.

……………………………………………………..

NIRVAN MAHARAJ

President General (ATGWTU)

Attorney at Law

Political Leader (NSA)

2nd Vice President (NATUC)

Emancipation Day 2016

Press Release

July 29, 2016

The All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) and The National Solidarity Assembly (NSA), wishes to extend its warmest greetings and sincerest congratulations to our Afro Trinbagonian Brothers and Sisters and by extension the wider nation as a whole as we celebrate Emancipation Day 2016.

August 1st 1838 represented the beginning of a new dawn in the lives of thousands of people of African Descent. A people freed from a system of slavery, designed to rip from them every shred of afro economic, social and political identity.

Today the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union and the National Solidarity Assembly pays special tribute to those who though shackled by the physical bonds of whips and chains, enmeshed in a mosaic of beatings, abuse, misery and pain, were still able to hold on to and maintain their ancestral linkages.

The Union and the National Solidarity Assembly pay homage and respect to the persons of African descent who resisted slavery, both actively and passively and those who accepted their destiny whilst instilling ancestral beliefs in their children and their children children’s for generations up to this present day. These are the people who retained their cultural, heritage, ancestry in the face of impossible odds. These are the people who were never truly enslaved as they aspired and persevered against tremendous odds to ensure that their heritage was preserved.

……………………………………………………..

NIRVAN MAHARAJ

President General (ATGWTU)

Attorney at Law

Political Leader (NSA)

2nd Vice President (NATUC)

PRESS RELEASE : the passing of Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning

The President General, Central Executive, Staff and membership of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) would like to extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to the wife and family on the untimely and sudden passing of the our former Prime Minister Mr. Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning.

The Union wishes to place on record that Mr. Manning made a monumental contribution to the historical, political and socio –economic development of Trinidad and Tobago and its people. Additionally, he will always be remembered as someone who was deeply committed to regional integration, the West Indian identity and a Caribbean man.

Whilst the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union recognises that Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region will be poorer with his passing, we are firm in our conviction that the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago will dig deep within our resolve to ensure that his legacy and contribution will continue to play a part in the continued quest for nation building and development and that also of the West Indian people.

We will conclude that in death there is also life and the work and legacy of Mr. Manning with continue to live on.

Yours sincerely,

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

PRESS RELEASE : Eid Greetings

The President General, Central Executive, Staff and membership of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union (ATGWTU) would like to extend Eid Greetings to the Muslim Community of Trinidad and Tobago on the very auspicious and joyous occasion of Eid Ul Fitr 2016.

Eid Ul Fitr comes at the termination of the Holy month of Ramadan and signifies the end of the fasting period for Muslim Sisters and Brothers. As we celebrate this pious occasion we take the opportunity to call not only upon the Muslim Community, but the entire citizenry of our beloved Trinidad and Tobago to take time and reflect upon the rich lessons which can be learnt from this month of sacrifice. The self-discipline, dedication, commitment and respect must be extended throughout the entire year and be incorporated as principles in our daily lives as we strive to improve the quality of society on a whole. 

May Allah continue to shower his choicest blessings upon all and Eid Mubarak to the Muslim Community.

Yours sincerely,

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

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

Press Conference : 6th December 2014

Ex-Caroni workers invited to join new political party

By Carolyn Kissoon carolyn.kissoon@trinidadexpress.com




http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ex-Caroni-workers-invited--to-join-new-political-party-279990052.html

Story Created: Oct 21, 2014 at 8:28 PM ECT

Story Updated: Oct 21, 2014 at 8:28 PM ECT
FORMER Caroni (1975) Ltd workers have been invited to join the country’s newest political party, the National Solidarity Assembly (NSA), to contest seats in the 2015 general election.

The NSA was formed by members of the All Trinidad General Workers Union (ATGWU) and is expected to be launched next month.

ATGWU president general Nirvan Maharaj said the political party was formed to encourage the Government to respond to issues affecting ex-Caroni workers.

He said screening would begin soon for 17 candidates to represent constituencies in the sugar belt.

Four former sugar workers have already expressed interest in four seats, including Pointe-a-Pierre, Naparima, Couva South and Couva North, said Maharaj.

“It is an attempt to get the Government to respond in a meaningful way to the issues of the ex-Caroni workers. We will be contesting 17 seats in the sugar belt areas, all in a bid to give ex-Caroni workers a choice. It is not a question of winning or losing, but there are 1,000 ex-Caroni workers living in Couva North and if I get 1,000 votes I will know that the ex-Caroni workers are saying continue the struggle on our behalf,” he said.

And if the votes do not favour the NSA, Maharaj said, he would reassess his position.

“If they don’t (support) I will know they are saying to let somebody else do so. We cannot be struggling indefinitely. We need to get a mandate and 2015 will be the best time to get that mandate,” he said.

Maharaj said his resolve was strengthened when the Government distributed 500 acres of land to former workers last week.

“I have no choice, 500 acres were given out last week and leases were given out without any infrastructure, development, without any roads, drainage, access irrigation. We have people who got leases and don’t know where the lands are located. The minister is saying people can go on a computer and see where their lands are located but that is different from people physically going on a site to see their lands. I need to get a logical conclusion,” he said.

Maharaj said he was stunned by the increasing support from ex-Caroni workers, small farmers and other groups.

And if his political party succeeds in claiming above 1,000 votes in the Couva district, Maharaj said, he would continue to articulate on behalf of the ex-workers, seeking legal options to ensure the issues are settled.


“But it can’t be that you vote Ramona Ramdial and Rudranath Indarsingh today and then come to me to take up a struggle on your behalf and then elections are called and you vote for them again and then come to me the next day to take up a struggle against the persons you vote for,” he said, referring to current Government MPs.

Maharaj said he was not too concerned about winning the election race, but making a statement to the former workers that the power lies in their hands.

“If I don’t get the support I will have to rethink what I am doing, because at the end of the day we can’t struggle in isolation for those we are struggling for. We have to reassess and reanalyse the situations,” he said.

Couva South MP and former All Trinidad General Workers Union (ATGWU) president general Rudy Indarsingh questioned the intent in the formation of a new political party to contest seats in the sugar belt.

And he dismissed claims that the People’s Partnership Government was not doing enough to resolve outstanding issues faced by former sugar workers.

Indarsingh was responding to statements made by Maharaj, who is expected to launch his new political party next month.

“If you form a political party, you form a political party to get into government or to achieve being in government. The composition of Parliament is 41 seats. When I was president of the ATGWU I left a union that lost 12,000 members between 2003 and 2010. Steering that union financially was a challenge. I doubt that the union has been able to increase its membership tenfold since closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd,” he said.

Indarsingh questioned whether Maharaj’s decision to launch NSA was sanctioned by the union’s general council and financial executive.

He recalled that the People’s National Movement (PNM) shut down Caroni and was about to pay out workers’ financial entitlements when the union intervened.

And through a legal battle, he said, the union was able to secure residential and agricultural land for workers.

Indarsingh said the PNM delivered 184 agricultural leases in its nine years in government, whereas the People’s Partnership distributed 4,000-plus agricultural leases and 1,984 residential leases.

He said the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led Government also made it possible for the ex-Caroni workers to recover money they invested in Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) and Hindu Credit Union (HCU).

Indarsingh said the Government had never shut its doors to dialogue with ATGWU to speed up the process in matters regarding the former workers.

“I am not saying that there are not some challenges, but the Government has been very open and committed to the process of continuing dialogue and working with the union. It is a work in progress and the Government is committed.”

Indarsingh said the last meeting between Government ministers and ATGWU was held at the Ministry of Housing two months ago.

Blind Welfare on Protest Action

Blind Welfare workers begin ‘stage one’ of protest action.

By Port-of-Spain
Alexander Bruzual

Link,http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Blind-Welfare-workers-begin-stage-one-of-protest-action-273416231.html

Story Created: Aug 31, 2014 at 11:17 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 31, 2014 at 11:17 PM ECT

ON Friday night, 20 workers at the Blind Welfare Association North Office, located at the corner of Duke and Edward streets in Port of Spain, locked themselves inside the building for the weekend as “stage one” of their plans to protest the fact that more than 50 workers have not been paid for the past ten working days.

This was revealed yesterday by president general of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union, Nirvan Maharaj, in a brief interview with the Express.

“We have a situation right now where the Government has not paid these men and women, who are mostly daily paid, for the past ten working days and counting,” said Maharaj.

“These are men and women who have families, who have bills, mortgages, medical payments, children to support. They are just like everyone else, and yet there seems to be no consideration for them at all.

“So about 20 persons decided that they had enough and they want to commence protest actions until the situation is resolved. Part of that plan was to lock themselves in the compound and sleep there. The union and myself went to the compound today (Sunday) to show solidarity with them and to give them food and drink, and to make sure they were all doing okay,” Maharaj added.

He said he was calling on the Government to resolve the issue as soon as possible for the sake of all involved.

“If the matter is not resolved by Tuesday afternoon, then the union will have no choice but to lead a march to the Prime Minister’s office demanding that she intervene and pay these men and women. We are hoping that it does not come to that, but we are preparing for any eventuality at this point,” Maharaj said.

Press Release : the constitutional amendment bill.

23^rd August 2014

The President General of the All Trinidad General Workers’ Trade Union Nirvan Maharaj wishes to express his preliminary point of view regarding the contents of the constitutional amendment bill.

This point of view is not cast in stone, but may be altered or even changed depending on the arguments for and against, if convincing enough, expressed by the Independent Senators in the Senatorial Debate to be held on the 26^th August, 2014.

Though questions may arise as to the process used to bring this Bill to Parliament, an initial analysis of the contents of this Bill together with research on the system proposed seem to indicate that there is no substantive provision in this Bill that makes it worst than the “First past the post system” or violates or denies a citizen his democratic rights under the Constitution to exercise his right to vote or to support a political party of his choice.

In the absence of any empirical evidence to show that this Bill undermines any of our constitutional rights to universal adult suffrage and/or any of the elements of the rights enshrined in Part 1 (4) of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago then the opposition to the contents of this Bill seem to be based on mere speculation and assumption on what may or may not happen and wild and unsubstantiated allusions to the race bogey. I am yet to be convinced that this proposed system will lead to a disturbance of our electoral peace and tranquillity or increase substantially, voting along racial lines anymore than we have experienced in this nation since the nineteen sixties.

It must be noted that no Constitution should ever be unchangeable, since the historical dynamics of the past must mesh with current and contemporary scenarios to ensure that all citizens are afforded the opportunity to fair play, equality and justice before the institutions that govern the society. It must be that a Constitution is evolutionary as the society itself evolves. It cannot be that we are willing to accept that a minority vote can dictate to the will of the majority, but we are fearful of a system that will allow an individual entering the Lower House of Parliament to be elected by the majority of the votes cast. This is simply not logical.

In lieu of the Opposition ever supporting any form of Proportional Representation, in my view and until shown otherwise, this bill is a step in the right direction toward ensuring that at least in the realm of electoral politics, the view of the majority of those taking part, may hold sway over the specific interest of a minority. If the First Past the Post System is not working in the best of the Country, as is alleged by some and as evidenced by the attempt by the Patrick Manning regime to also introduce Constitutional change, and people are vehemently opposed to the Run Off System, then perhaps the time has come for Civil Society Organisations and other interest groups to demand that the PNM, UNC and other political interest groups implement some type of Proportional Representation to ensure that he who achieves the majority of votes win and that all interest are served. That may be a lot better than opposing for opposing sake and finding any avenue to say that your rights are being violated, to continue to do this, is disingenuous to the future of our nation.

I am of the view that any political party entering into elections should do so as an alternative to the incumbent and with the desire to win in order to do better. It is up to the individual political parties to capture the imagination of the public, become a major force and in so doing achieve the necessary votes to win an election whether through a first-past-the-post system or any other system. It is quite strange in my view and incomprehensible that a political party will go into election with a desire to lose. For example, if the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union were to form a political party to ensure the interest of the ex-Caroni workers and their families were being attended to and also to assist those who feel they have been unfairly done by, especially by the Partnership Government and the PNM. Then in the constituencies this Party should choose to contest, we will be going all out to be an alternative and to win, not lose, or be of nuisance value.

In any event, until such time as the views of the independent senators are expressed and I am convinced otherwise it is my view that most of the opposition levied against the content of this bill are simply opposing for opposing sake. The Jury is however out on the process used and whether a simple majority is all that was needed; this can only be tested in a Court of Law. However in lieu of Proportional Representation being achieved in the House perhaps this bill is a step in the right direction.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Nirvan Maharaj
(Attorney at Law)
President General

Press Conference

16th August 2014, 10:50am