Annisette: Real solutions needed in 2019

IN 2019, politicians must come down from their ivory towers and engage the people to craft real social solutions, urged Michael Annisette, head of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU), speaking to Newsday yesterday.

“At the end of 2018, my thoughts are focused on a better TT for all and in particular the youths, especially those in disadvantaged places.

“We are not dealing with the root cause of the issues that are causing youths to go off the rails. We need to come back to reality and address the fundamental issues.”

Annisette reckoned current “strong” policing policies could actually exacerbate crime.

“We don’t need some maverick coming to save us. The only resolution has to come from inside us. It has to be a collective effort to embrace everybody.”

He described the “one shot, one kill” philosophy – as espoused by Police Commissioner Gary Griffith – as mere public relations that fails to tackle the root causes of social breakdown that lead to crime.

Annisette urged a ditching of the old political system and its traditional polarisation. He also said TT won’t become a better society with an obscene and growing income gap. “Create more jobs,” he urged. “Youth in depressed areas have been marginalised. There is gnawing anger.

“I don’t think the politicians have their ear to the people, but live in ivory towers.”

Annisette said the Prime Minister’s credibility had been greatly hurt when he had initially said only Petrotrin’s refinery would shut, but ultimately the whole company closed, in favour of three successor companies.

He also said Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan should be held more to account over the seabridge collapse. Lamenting the cancellation of several trips of the Galleons Passage, he said the ferry was not properly procured and asked if Cabinet considered itself beyond the laws of TT. “You can’t run a society so.”

Annisette said this society needs fixing.

“We are in crisis mode. We need to come together, including the youths, to make a better TT where everyone feels empowered and part of the solution.”

He wanted greater participation in democracy other than people merely staining their finger every five years.

Looking at populist leaders ranging from Hitler to Trump, Annisette warned that their rise had resulted from people feeling disenchanted and therefore willing to accept anybody. He hoped that instead of such a scenario, social solutions should come to the fore.

Annisette also hoped the white-collar people who control the illicit drug trade would be targeted, rather than low-level crooks.

Alleging dishonesty in the closure of Petrotrin, and alleging an attempt to dismantle the Port Authority in 2018, Annisette said, “Trade unions will be coming out in 2019. It’s time for the fightback. It is times of crisis that you determine who are the real leaders.”