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.