People's Democracy national strike to start Monday

A coalition of interest groups calling itself the People’s Democracy begins a two-day national strike Monday.

But Labour Minister Rennie Dumas says the people would not heed the call.

And his cabinet colleague, Minister of Energy Conrad Enill, told reporters Saturday the planned action will do nothing for productivity in Trinidad and Tobago.

The chairman of the People's National Movement (PNM) spoke with media after a meeting of his party's general council.

"What message are you sending when you do something that will not enhance productivity?” the minister asked.

People's Democracy comprises more than three dozen organizations including trade unions, NGOs and other groups united to protest national concerns.

The protest is against government policies but in particular the controvsersial proerty tax, which is scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of 2010.

The five-day protest began Friday and when citizens were asked to wear red armbands. That phase continued Saturday, followed by a rally Sunday in Woodford Square.

The climax is the proposed general strike planned for Monday and Tuesday.
The organization's website highlights a number of problems affecting the country today:

• The Property TaxContinuing high food pricesNeglect by the Government of food production by farmers and fisherfolkThe lack of regard for transparency and accountability
• The misuse of the national patrimony to pursue mega projects rather than address the basic needs of citizens
• Disregard for the dignity of labour and attacks on labour and the co-operative sectorThe lack of concern for the well being and welfare of the elderly
• An attempt to further entrench a concentration of power in the hands of the Executive based on the proposals for reform of the Constitution and Local Government

"All of these issues, and the very many others that affect citizens, display a lack of concern and regard for the welfare and well-being of citizens," it says.

Dumas said the action is not justifiable and is an an affront to progress. He also called it a "deliberate plan to disturb lives and deprive people of goods and services".

He added that Government does not have a contingency plan to deal with a national strike because he knows that people will ignore the call and that it will be "business as usual" next week.