Manning
calls for broad dialogue on industrial development
By Roxanne Stapleton
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
12 10 06
THE TRADE union movement "must become involved"
in the smelter debate, Prime Minister Patrick Manning
said last week.
Manning
made the call during his address at the World Conference
for Energy Industries, co-chaired by the Oilfield
Workers Trade Union (OWTU), at the Hilton, Port
of Spain.
Of
the controversial topic, which has generated widespread
heated debate, Manning noted: "Currently the
Government is making an attempt to establish an
aluminum smelter.
"It
is an initiative of the state which has produced
quite a lot of public debate.
"The
trade union movement must become involved... in
the final analysis the debate is likely to open
up into an equally important, though far broader
dialogue concerning the future industrial development
of Trinidad and Tobago," Manning stressed.
"There
are important issues - how are we to continue to
use our oil and gas revenues for the benefit of
our society and how do we ensure that we do not
misuse or abuse our resources," were questions
posed by Manning to the large audience, consisting
of representatives of trade unions from more than
60 countries.
He
cited his Government's concern about sustaining
national development and self-sufficiency in the
long-run.
Contrary
to what many seek to portray Manning said, we are
in many respects only just beginning to explore
the full potential of our energy sector.
"Significant
areas are yet to be brought under exploration.
"We
have proven the critics wrong with the discovery
of the Angostura Fields in 2001, they have proven
wrong again with the discovery of additional reserves
only a few weeks ago."
"We
are today compensating in many ways for more than
one and a half centuries of oil exploration and
exploitation," Manning said.
Gravitating
to the trade union movement, the Prime Minister
commented that there's a feeling that labour movements
worldwide are capitulating under the advance of
global capitalism.
Speaking
of the Trinidad and Tobago experience, he said:
"Since the establishment of the Industrial
Court in Trinidad and Tobago and the pursuit of
labour related legislation, there has been an attempt
by some to project the administration to which I
belong and now have the honour to lead as anti-labour.
"But
what they have sought to peddle flies in the face
of all the positive developments that have subsequently
taken place, in respect of the evolution of the
labour movement in Trinidad and Tobago."
He
cited unions here as being among the most dynamic
of the movement across the globe and are allowed
to "operate without hindrance".
"The
labour movement in Trinidad and Tobago is alive,
well and kicking and what is more, the Government
remains commited to its advancement," Manning
said.
Of
the current unemployment rate which now stands at
5.9 per cent, jobs which Manning readily admitted,
did not arise from the energy sector, he said: "Now
that we have brought the unemployment figure down,
let us work to improve the condition of those formerly
unemployed, wherever they now find work."
On
energy revenues, Manning insisted his administration
has not squandered our energy revenues.
"In
fact, we've put aside as of now $6.5 billion in
the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF),"
he noted.
Speaking
on the HSF, he was replying to president general
of the OWTU, Errol Mc Leod, that the next strike
his union calls, they will have global support.
Manning
joked: "That, (the HSF), gives the Government
of Trinidad and Tobago great endurance, in other
words, be careful how you call the next strike."
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
