Small crowd at Democracy rally but group promises national shutdown Monday and Tuesday

The United National Congress (UNC) said Sunday it is supporting the two-day general strike in Trinidad and Tobago, beginning Monday, by closing its offices at the Rienzi Complex in Couva on both days.

The government has said it is not taking the threat of a shutdown seriously and has no contingency plans to deal with the situation because it is convinced that workers won't heed the call.

Labour Minister Rennie Dumas said last week he expects that it would be "business as usual" on Monday and Tuesday.

The umbrella group People's Democracy has called for the shutdown, which is the culmination of a five day protest that began Friday with workers wearing red armbands as a symbol of protest.

Read the story: People's Democracy national strike to start Monday

On Sunday the group held a rally in Woodfood Square, Port of Spain, which did not attract a mass audience. Organizers said about 600 people attended but they say that does not mean there won't be any support for the general strike.

David Abdulah, president of Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (FITUN), whose organization is a key player in the group, said about 150,000 workers participated in the protest on Friday and Saturday by wearing red armbands.

And he predicted success for the strike call, saying no buses, maxis, taxis will be running. "We will shut down the country," he said.

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) is a member of the group and has asked its members to heed the shutdown call. That has led many parents to decide to keep their children at home.

Business organizations like the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association(TTMA) and the Employers Consultative Association (ECA) have denounced the strike as irresponsible.

Abdullah said the drastic action results from neglect and the refusal of the government to respond to offers to engage in dialogue to discuss the nation's pressing problems.

"No more dialogue. Now is the time for action," he said.

Prakash Ramadhar, Deputy Political Leader of the Congress of the People (COP), attended the rally and pledged his party's support for the action.

"They are fighting for a lot of the same causes as the COP and those issues are bigger than political parties," he said.