Exactly 78 years after Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler led the historic Labour Riots in south Trinidad, chaos broke out in Fyzabad when the police riot squad physically threw Public Service Association (PSA) president Watson Duke out of the annual Labour Day celebrations.
Leading thousands of members from the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc), Duke, along with Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) president Michael Anisette broke through a human barricade formed by South Western Division Task Force and stormed the Joint Trade Union Movement’s (JTUM) gathering at Charlie King Junction.
This led to reinforcements being brought in and officers held Duke by his neck, hands and back and dragged him out of the crowd. Guns were aimed at protesters and several of them were struck with batons as they followed their leaders.
According to Senior Supt Patsy Joseph, police had approved Natuc’s request to march through the streets of Fyzabad, but instead of following the intended route through Lum Tack Hill, they went to Charlie King Junction.
But a defiant Duke said the police was out of order to stop them as Charlie King Junction belonged to the people of T&T.
“Charlie King Junction belongs to no man. It represents the highest point of the struggle since the 1930s and today we have come to pay homage to the late great Butler at Charlie King Junction and no man can stop us from that,” Duke said.
Anisette said the police showed a clear bias by their actions, adding that Natuc never agreed to bypass Charlie King Junction.
In a response, Roget said Natuc’s efforts were planned in advance and was intended to stop the Joint Trade Union Movement’s performance appraisal of the People’s Partnership. However, he said they failed.
The chaos
Blowing whistles and horns, Natuc members brought a halt to the activities outside the Oilfields Workers Trade Union’s office. Duke demanded that he be invited on stage with JTUM members who had previously warned Natuc that they were not invited to this year’s celebration.
President of the T&T Postal Workers Association welcomed the members saying that trade unions shared the common goal of representing the national labour force. But after this failed to quiet the PSA, Joseph and T&T Unified Teacher’s Association president Devanand Sinanan took to the podium and asked Duke to control his supporters.
Instead of calming down, PSA members began chanting, “Tell Roget the same thing.”
While the commotion was taking place, Roget, who is also mourning the death of his mother, sat calmly and revised his speech. Assistant Commissioner of Police Donald Denoon held a discussion with Duke, but also failed to quell the union’s defiance.