By JANELLE DE SOUZA Saturday, February 4 2012

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DUKE SPEAKS: PSA President Watson Duke addressing forestry workers protesting outside the Forestry Division, Long Circular Road, St James. ...

Public Services Association President (PSA), Watson Duke, yesterday encouraged Forestry Division workers to take “a day of rest” on Monday.

Instead of going to work, he called on all workers to show up in front of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment on South Quay while he, and a few Forestry representatives meet with the Minister of Housing and the Environment, Roodal Moonilal.

Forestry workers from across the country gathered at the Forestry Division Head Office, Long Circular Road, St James yesterday morning to protest the Ministry’s intention to dissolve the Forestry Division and create a Forestry Authority.

From as early as 9 am, workers began to gather at the gates of the Division chanting “No authority! No contract!” and brandishing signs which read, “Dis is ah Conspiracy”, “Why Fire We, to Hire Friends and Family,” the policy makers are misleading the PP Government, and “Fill the Vacancies for Greater Efficiency.”

One worker explained that a Bill to set up The Authority had already been formed, and was waiting to be carried to Parliament. “A Forestry Authority, at least in our opinion, would mean a loss of jobs, and no job security. They formed a Bill even though there has not been any consultation between the Ministry, the PSA and NUGFW,” he said.

At 12:20 pm Duke arrived to cheers and applause. He said that, as citizens they deserved the right to stability in their lives, especially in the form of job security. He noted that a Bill was already existent, but the terms and conditions were unknown. “Will we have to resign our jobs? Who will they hire? We have no information, and we want answers,” he said. Duke then announced his intention to walk to Parliament and march in front of Tower D at the Waterfront on Wrightson Rd, in order to secure a meeting with Minister of Housing and the Environment, Roodal Moonilal, who was attending a sitting of Parliament.

“We are bringing to the consciousness of the nation the fact that over 2,000 jobs are on the breadline. And don’t take it for granted that when they sit in Parliament, they would remember you,” Duke said.

Encouraged by Duke, the protesters kept up a steady chant of “We want Moonilal” and, after approximately 50 minutes, Moonilal could be seen walking down the stairs to the main entrance. Duke was beckoned into the building. No other representative was allowed to enter.

A meeting has been scheduled for Monday February 6 at 1 pm at the Ministry’s offices.