Abdulah ready to make MSJ strong, mass party with committed members

David Abdulah at the Fitun congress Sunday

David Abdulah said on national television on Monday he stands by his decision to give up the leadership of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (Fitun).

Abdulah made the surprise move on Sunday at a Fitun congress in San Fernando. (Read the story: Abdulah quits Fitun to focus on MSJ)

He explained that it would be unfair for him to lead the organisation and also the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ). However he will keep his jobs as general secretary of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) and a Government Senator.

Abdulah said now is the time to focus on developing the MSJ, adding that he had no difficulty making his decision to leave Fitun. "Sentimental, yes, but I am still going to be close to Fitun. So I will be there, but I won't have the day to day responsibility for it."

He spoke of his goal for the MSJ. "I think we have to become a mass party," he said.

"We are a party with significantly important people who are members but I think we have to grow in terms of membership, in terms of strength. Not just people who will sign up a form for the sake of signing up a form. But people who are serious about a different kind of Trinidad and Tobago, a transformed society.

"So the responsibility is to get the message of the MSJ out there, in the country, that this is a party that working people ought to belong to."