United opposition stands up for Chinese workers

Opposition members of Parliament put away their political daggers Monday and stood up for the Chinese labourers who have become the subject of much debate in the past week over their working and living conditions.

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked Speaker Barendra Sinanan to allow debate on the issue.

Sinanan agreed that it was a matter of concern and worthy of debate. But he observed that there seemed to be some “uncertainty” on the Government side.

So he eventually decided to get clarification. When the government objected to debate on the issue, Sinanan resorted to the constitutional requirement of a quorum of 11 members.

Normally that would not be a problem. But with the infighting taking place in the opposition United National Congress (UNC) it was not a certainty.

But in a rare show of unity, all 12 opposition members present stood up when Sinanan asked those MPs in favour of the motion to stand. Opposition leader Basdeo Panday and MPs Kelvin Ramnath and Mickela Panday were not there.

The Speaker concluded that it was more than sufficient support and decided that the House would debate the motion.

The government has been under intense pressure over the Chinese workers who have been living under deplorable conditions at a residential camp in central Trinidad.

Last week they staged a demonstration to raise awareness of their living and working conditions and claimed that their employers were withholding money owing to them.

The men have been worked on contract on a number of government projects. The government initially had a hands-off policy on the matter saying it was between workers and employers.

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