Petrotrin
union head predicts energy growth
By
Radhica Sookraj
The Trinidad Guardian
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
07 22 07
President
General of Oilfield Workers Trade Union Errol
K McLeod is warning that civil war can break
out in T&T, because of deep divisions of race,
religion and political affiliation.
In
a two-hour address at Paramount Building in San
Fernando to mark OWTU’s 68th annual conference
of delegates on Friday night, McLeod said OWTU’s
members were being affected by the breakdown of
social order.
“Our
judiciary is incapable of dispensing justice,
and the country is split by race, religion,
party affiliation, to a point where civil war is
not impossible.
“In fact, civil war couldn’t
be far off, and if anybody has to intervene,
it will be
the OWTU.”
He said OWTU had always been the vanguard of the
workers and the bulwark of the population.
McLeod
announced that his union would begin mounting
a platform in every “nook and cranny” and
offer leadership to citizens.
“The
country is facing a leadership crisis. The ruling
party is abusing its power. This is
a government that is totally bankrupt of ideas.
“We
have an Opposition that is diseased by corruption.”
Quoting
a report from OWTU’s general council,
McLeod said the nation’s crisis had worsened
since last year, with the affairs of Chief Justice
Satnarine Sharma and Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls,
who is now facing a disciplinary charge.
“One
year ago, the Opposition was deeply-divided.
Now, we have two opposing parties.
“The
ruling party is abusing its power and is now
working towards obtaining a parliamentary
majority to amend the Constitution.
“The
OWTU has to intervene to prevent this from happening.”
McLeod
said the OWTU and the Federation of Independent
Trade Unions (Fitun) would mount their own platform
and develop a people’s manifesto to address
the concerns of the population.
“We have a duty to protect our members and
the public at large,” McLeod said.
However, OWTU would never align itself to any
political party.
“To do so will be to commit suicide,” McLeod
said. He added that OWTU would be guided by principles
and remain independent of all political parties
in T&T.
“We will go to the length and breadth of
T&T and unite all the working people. Power
is in the streets.”
McLeod said once people were united at the ground
level, the manifesto would be given to the ruling
party to highlight the concerns of the citizens.
He said OWTU was entering a process of renewal
and regeneration, as it was not ready to take on
political power.
Also attending the conference were Prime Minister
of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer, First Vice-President
of the OWTU Ancil Roget and President General of
Fitun David Abdulah.
The
Trinidad Guardian
July 22 2007
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©2007 The Trinidad Guardian. All
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