There is no pretence anymore.
Ancel Roget and some of his colleagues in the labour movement have only one interest today and it has nothing to do with the workers they represent; they are intent on creating unrest with the hope that they will destabilise the People's Partnership (PP) government and cause it to fall.
The fact that the unions represent a substantial part of the membership of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) also raises the question about whether David Abdulah as both leader of the MSJ and an executive member of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) can morally be a part of this anti-government movement and still remain a Government senator and an insider in the governing coalition.
Roget's latest move against the government is to throw his support with what he perceives to be a popular pressure movement - the Highway re-route group led by Wayne Kublalsingh. Roget and his friends declared that they have now engaged in an 'epic battle' against the development of a section of the highway to Point Fortin.
Ancel Roget and some of his colleagues in the labour movement have only one interest today and it has nothing to do with the workers they represent; they are intent on creating unrest with the hope that they will destabilise the People's Partnership (PP) government and cause it to fall.
The fact that the unions represent a substantial part of the membership of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) also raises the question about whether David Abdulah as both leader of the MSJ and an executive member of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) can morally be a part of this anti-government movement and still remain a Government senator and an insider in the governing coalition.
Roget's latest move against the government is to throw his support with what he perceives to be a popular pressure movement - the Highway re-route group led by Wayne Kublalsingh. Roget and his friends declared that they have now engaged in an 'epic battle' against the development of a section of the highway to Point Fortin.
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| Ancel Roget joins hands with Wayne Kublalsingh to "defeat this political elite" |
And if you needed the smoking gun as evidence that this is much more than a community trying to protect their interests you have to listen to how Kublalsingh describes the new alliance. "This new political formation will defeat this political elite,” he told reporters.
The "political formation" will neither bring down the government nor solve any problems. What it will do is place additional hurdles in the way of development and at the same time push Abdulah between a rock and a hard place.
And the stress is already showing.
As the leader of the MSJ Abdulah represents more than the OWTU and the more vocal labour bodies that are screaming for the government's blood. The MSJ comprises unions other than the OWTU and he cannot allow one group to bully the others into submission.
The "political formation" will neither bring down the government nor solve any problems. What it will do is place additional hurdles in the way of development and at the same time push Abdulah between a rock and a hard place.
And the stress is already showing.
As the leader of the MSJ Abdulah represents more than the OWTU and the more vocal labour bodies that are screaming for the government's blood. The MSJ comprises unions other than the OWTU and he cannot allow one group to bully the others into submission.
And the most important question today is this: How can he honestly and ethically work within the OWTU, knowing that Roget's aim is to use the union as his base to undermine the government. How can he do that and still lead a party that is a member of the governing coalition?
Roget, as president general of the OWTU, has already made it clear that his union is leaving the MSJ before the end of May, even before giving the PP an opportunity to resolve the issues the MSJ has put on the table. This means that Abdulah, as an executive member of the OWTU, would have endorsed that unless Roget has made a unilateral and dictatorial decision on behalf of the union.
The MSJ has found itself in a political straight jacket because as a member of the coalition it has a responsibility to stand up with the partnership and should be attending next week's celebration to mark the second anniversary of the election victory.
But some of Abdulah's labour colleagues - mainly the OWTU - are pushing him in another direction. This dissident element in the MSJ doesn't want to be a part of the coalition and is suggesting that Abdulah must not attend that rally.
The MSJ leader cannot continue to sit on the fence and try to please both sides. He must make a choice and he must do it in the next few days.
If he continues to keep the MSJ in the political coalition he must state so and then stand publicly with his colleagues in Chaguanas next Thursday.
That would likely mean that he would have to hand over the leadership of the MSJ while continuing to be a Government senator and an executive member of the OWTU, which would be quite annoying for Roget.
On the other had he could chose to follow the line clearly outlined by Roget and his battle-ready union friends to create a new political protest movement aimed at undermining the government, walk away from the government and cause labour to lose its voice and influence within cabinet.
The choices are clear. Now the ball is really in Abdulah's court and how he plays it will determine where labour truly stands. And more importantly, it will determine Abdulah's political future.
Jai Parasram | Toronto, 18 May 2012
Roget, as president general of the OWTU, has already made it clear that his union is leaving the MSJ before the end of May, even before giving the PP an opportunity to resolve the issues the MSJ has put on the table. This means that Abdulah, as an executive member of the OWTU, would have endorsed that unless Roget has made a unilateral and dictatorial decision on behalf of the union.
The MSJ has found itself in a political straight jacket because as a member of the coalition it has a responsibility to stand up with the partnership and should be attending next week's celebration to mark the second anniversary of the election victory.
But some of Abdulah's labour colleagues - mainly the OWTU - are pushing him in another direction. This dissident element in the MSJ doesn't want to be a part of the coalition and is suggesting that Abdulah must not attend that rally.
The MSJ leader cannot continue to sit on the fence and try to please both sides. He must make a choice and he must do it in the next few days.
If he continues to keep the MSJ in the political coalition he must state so and then stand publicly with his colleagues in Chaguanas next Thursday.
That would likely mean that he would have to hand over the leadership of the MSJ while continuing to be a Government senator and an executive member of the OWTU, which would be quite annoying for Roget.
On the other had he could chose to follow the line clearly outlined by Roget and his battle-ready union friends to create a new political protest movement aimed at undermining the government, walk away from the government and cause labour to lose its voice and influence within cabinet.
The choices are clear. Now the ball is really in Abdulah's court and how he plays it will determine where labour truly stands. And more importantly, it will determine Abdulah's political future.
Jai Parasram | Toronto, 18 May 2012
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