The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) yesterday stepped up its call for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to call the election on or before May 24, while at the same time urging her to take responsibility for the numerous allegations of corruption plaguing her Government. The call was made by JTUM’s general secretary Ozzi Warwick during an ole mas demonstration on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain.
It was against the backdrop of the JTUM effigy, fondly referred to as “Mother Goose”, which was dressed in a copy-cat outfit of the one Persad-Bissessar wore last weekend when she attended the Heatwave all-inclusive fete at the Queen’s Park Oval. The printed billboard attracted more attention than the protesting union executives, as members of the public traversing the capital city laughed at the headline: “I Have The Most Corrupt Government Ever But Ah Partying Like A Boss.”
Pointing to the effigy, Warwick said it was in keeping with the tradition of ole mas as Canboulay was used to depict the colonial authorities by oppressed workers who would dress and imitate them as a form of protest. Warwick said although the country was in the midst of the Carnival season, it was important to maintain the focus on the role and responsibilities of the Prime Minister as well as her failings.
Claiming that as many as 29 ministers were fired and or removed under Persad-Bissessar’s tenure, Warwick said the list of woes included Reshmi Ramnarine, LifeSport, Section 34, prisongate, Emailgate, the Debe to Mon Desir section of the Point Fortin Highway, the NP Gopaul scandal, falsified qualifications of persons in high office, the fall of the Attorney General, witness tampering, the plight of contract workers, the lack of foreign currency, violent crime, amendments to the Tobago House of Assembly Act, the run-off bill and generally bad governance.
“The Prime Minister is at the centre of all that and must be held responsible. “The population will not tolerate it as they have had five years during which they failed to implement the workers’ agenda and to demonstrate good governance,” Warwick added
Renewing the JTUM’s call for the election to be called by May 24 as Government had lost legitimacy, Warwick also called for all outstanding negotiations to be settled before it demits office.
A similar call was made by the leader of the Movement for Social Justice, David Abdulah on Wednesday, outside the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.