‘You should have done more’

Attorney representing Petrotrin on the Industrial Relations Offense (IRO), Reginald Armour, SC, yesterday finished his cross examination of Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) President General Ancel Roget, questioning the reasons behind the union leader’s decisions for filing the IRO when he did and his ability to meet the deadlines set by the company when making proposals for restructuring. Responding to questions over the deadlines for the proposals, Roget said in their presentation to the company, the OWTU outlined strategies and objectives for restructuring the company, but needed more time than the November 30 deadline would allow.

However Armour contended that the company was in no position to extend the deadline and argued that Roget should have done more than he did to make his proposal for leasing more convincing.

“The company was making it very clear to you that there were reasons why time was not on the company’s side. The reasons had to do with its very dire financial circumstances. So throughout the company was giving you credible, good reasons why the deadline could not be extended.

“Did you not consider it incumbent on you to accept a proposal to lease or purchase the company, you needed to do more than you did to give them a credible proposal, to meet the deadline they consistently told you they had no time for? Did it not occur to you that you needed to do more to put together a plan for the company.”

The matter was adjourned to next Wednesday where leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah is expected to testify.