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| Watson Duke and his supporters |
Duke is the elected president of the PSA but has been under fire since he signed a deal for a five per cent wage increase for Public Sector workers. He has been accused of selling out although he has reasoned that it was the best deal when the entire package is put together.
The internal feud has led to the creation of factions within the organisation with some suspended members joining together to expel Duke. The "opposition" within the PSA also claims the president may have misused funds.
The internal feud has led to the creation of factions within the organisation with some suspended members joining together to expel Duke. The "opposition" within the PSA also claims the president may have misused funds.
On Thursday, Duke took action to secure the PSA's money by removing the bulk of it from the state-owned First Citizens Bank (FCB) to RBC Royal Bank.
Duke closed off the PSA account after being the bank denied him access for several hours on Wednesday based on a letter from suspended members, which stated that Duke was expelled and should no longer have access to the union's funds.
Duke withdrew more than $4 million and vowed to end all dealings with FCB. And he urged PSA members to boycott the bank. He was also critical of dissident members whom he said have no rights to send letters with no letterhead to the banks.
"Persons coming out, calling themselves the PSA, they have written several fraudulent letters that are now engaging authorities. One of those letters found itself to FCB bank and they decided to close down accounts of the PSA without even consulting us," Duke told reporters.
Duke said the general council of the PSA has "lost trust and confidence" in FCB.
"As such we have withdrawn all our finances, our account was in excess of $4 million," he said. "We are showing them that the power does indeed reside with this presidency."
RBC is a Canadian bank and Duke noted that, saying perhaps the "Canadian system" at RBC made the difference.
Rosanna Robinson, the person named as interim president of the PSA following the expulsion of Duke, has accused Duke of a criminal act. "Charges will be laid against Duke. That is not Duke's money, that is the union's money," she told the Trinidad Express newspaper.
Duke closed off the PSA account after being the bank denied him access for several hours on Wednesday based on a letter from suspended members, which stated that Duke was expelled and should no longer have access to the union's funds.
Duke withdrew more than $4 million and vowed to end all dealings with FCB. And he urged PSA members to boycott the bank. He was also critical of dissident members whom he said have no rights to send letters with no letterhead to the banks.
"Persons coming out, calling themselves the PSA, they have written several fraudulent letters that are now engaging authorities. One of those letters found itself to FCB bank and they decided to close down accounts of the PSA without even consulting us," Duke told reporters.
Duke said the general council of the PSA has "lost trust and confidence" in FCB.
"As such we have withdrawn all our finances, our account was in excess of $4 million," he said. "We are showing them that the power does indeed reside with this presidency."
RBC is a Canadian bank and Duke noted that, saying perhaps the "Canadian system" at RBC made the difference.
Rosanna Robinson, the person named as interim president of the PSA following the expulsion of Duke, has accused Duke of a criminal act. "Charges will be laid against Duke. That is not Duke's money, that is the union's money," she told the Trinidad Express newspaper.
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