No pay cuts for Public Service workers: Kamla

Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Wednesday that a People's Partnership government will not ask public servants in Trinidad and Tobago to take any pay cuts.

She made the statement at a political meeting in San Fernando to assure workers that they have nothing to worry about.

The UNC leader said the PNM and its agents are spreading malicious rumours that if the opposition wins the election workers in the public sector would have to take a pay cut to help fund the expensive promises the People's Partnership is making on its platforms.

But Persad-Bissessar called that a lie.

She explained that one of the coalition's central platform pledges is a "Life Fund" of $100 million and that she has asked that those who would become members of cabinet to contribute five per cent of their salaries to the fund.

She said the Prime Minister would take a 10 per cent pay cut to add to the fund, which is to help pay for children who need life-saving medical procedures that are not available in Trinidad and Tobago.

Other speakers on the political platform, including Dr Roodal Moonilal, Jack Warner and Errol McLeod gave the same assurance and said the PNM is creating fear among public workers by spreading lies.

They also stated that all social programs will remain and a People's Partnership government would improve them. These include the GATE program and CEPEP.

Mc Leod, who is the coalition candidate for Pointe a Pierre charged that the Manning administration was always anti-worker and accused the PNM of destroying the country's labour bank by shutting down programs that offered training in various skills.

Mc Leod said a People's Partnership would ensure - and pass legislation if neccesary - to protect local jobs. "Migrant labour will not be employed to the detriment of the local labour force," he said.

The former President General of the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union said contrary to what the PNM professes it is not a caring organization. Addressing the PNM's campaign slogan that the PNM understands Mc Leod said the "PNM understand how to exploit people and t'ief we money."

He predicted that the coalition would win Monday's election. "This thing is developing into a political tsunami so you will hear nothing about the PNM after May 24," he said.