OWTU joins forces with UNC to vote PNM out

CONVINCED that Government “is playing games with the (Petrotrin) refinery and has no intention of giving control to the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) to operate,” trade unionists affected by the closure have decided to join forces with the UNC/NTA/ILP accommodation to ensure victory for the Opposition and defeat for the ruling party in the upcoming local government election on August 14.

It is not the first time the union has intervened in elections, but Christopher Jackman, president of the Pointe-a-Pierre branch of the OWTU, said it is the first time such a decision was taken by a branch.

Jackman said the OWTU's executive had sanctioned the move.

He said the goal was to break the local government deadlock and ensure the defeat for the PNM in this local government election and the next general election.

He said the union was concentrating on two key corporations – San Fernando and Sangre Grande – which it believed were within the grasp of the UNC.

Members of the OWTU have been campaigning for some of the UNC candidates who fall within the Pointe-a-Pierre/Marabella region in which Petrotrin was located.

Those candidates include, Kern Ramdhin, Michael Ali Bocus an artiste and promoter known as Makamillion, and attorney Sasha Ali, who face off against former UNC councillor Marcus Girdharie who has defected to the PNM in the Marabella South/Vistabella district.

Jackman said the union was also supporting Vanessa Kussie, the widow of Rishi Nagassar, one of four divers who died in the Paria Fuel Trading Co Ltd tragedy in February 2022. Kussie is contesting a new seat called Couva West/Roystonia in the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation.

OWTU representatives have already started walking with Ali and Ramdhin. On Thursday, the OWTU again accompanied Ali on her campaign in the St Joseph area.

“On Friday we are walking with Vanessa in Couva. On Saturday we are going back into San Fernando, Springvale, district and we also have two others over the weekend.

"We have a very rigid schedule. Next week, there is a big joint meeting at Palms Club, San Fernando, where we will be ramping up the show of force.

“The intention is to get the message out there that from that every election from now on, we are throwing our support behind the Opposition to remove this government from power.”

He said while the focus was on San Fernando because of limited manpower, there was a team that was ready to show solidarity wherever it was required.

While the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) is a political entity which has evolved from the union, Jackman made it clear that while the OWTU supported that party, the reality was that it was only fielding three candidates in the Point Fortin Borough Corporation.

He said the union was looking for a party that could influence change.

“We need people who can influence the start-up of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, because if it stays down any longer, there would be no coming back.

“We have seen over the years that the Government is not serious about restarting the refinery. They are playing games. They clearly do not represent the interest of the working class.”

He lamented declining employment standard, especially in the energy sector where the majority of workers were on contract.

“Workers are afraid to speak out for their safety and we believe this is what would have led to the death of the Paria divers and Allan Lane Ramkissoon, the Massy Energy worker who died as a result of an accident on the NiQuan plant.”