Abdulah: OWTU supporting MSJ for elections

MOVEMENT for Social Justice (MSJ) political leader David Abdulah said the Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) is only supporting the party's three candidates in the August 14 local government elections.

Abdulah, a former top OWTU official and now an honorary member for life, added that he knows of no decision taken by the union's general council for the OWTU as an organisation to support the Opposition UNC in the elections.

He made these comments at a news conference at the party's headquarters in Marabella, as he urged people to use their vote wisely in the elections. Abdulah said this meant people could vote for whoever they choose or choose not to vote at all.

On members of the OWTU's Pointe-a-Pierre branch supporting UNC candidates contesting districts in the San Fernando City Corporation, Abdulah said, " I am aware that there was one decision made by the general council of the OWTU. That decision was to support the candidates of the MSJ."

He added, "I am not aware there was any (OWTU) general council decision to support anybody else."

The MSJ's candidates Nigel Whyte, Amber Wharton and Kester Swan are contesting the districts of Techier/Guapo, Hollywood and New Village respectively in the Point Fortin Borough Corporation

On workers who choose to align themselves with the UNC for the elections, Abdulah said, "Ultimately, workers have to understand where their true interests lie."

He added workers must also recognise who has truly defended their interests in the past and will do so again in the future. Abdulah said no other political party has a proven track record on this matter than the MSJ.

He said it was wrong for elements of the media to promote a non-existent rift between the MSJ and OWTU about some of the latter's members reportedly supporting the UNC.

A reporter asked Abdulah, "Does the country see this as a betrayal of the MSJ? Do you agree?"

Abdulah replied, "Only if you media decide to promote it in that way."

He said there were certain people who wanted to create this false narrative.

"The fact of the matter is (political parties) will do anything (to win). They have reached out to people that are before the court to join with them."

Abdulah said, "In their desperation, (political) parties will attempt to use every advantage that they could get to win office."

He added that law of conscience is higher than that of government.

"Therefore we are not going to engage in poli-tricks. We are going to engage in serious politics to raise the conscience of people to create a revolution of the mind."

Reiterating that the MSJ is not in an alliance with any political party for the elections and is not endorsing the candidates of parties contesting districts which the MSJ is not, Abdulah said the party does not subscribe to the view that one has to sleep with the devil or embrace the lesser of two evils to win office.

"Evil is evil – lesser or not, it’s still evil. That cannot be how you decide who should have political office."

He disclosed that as August 14 draws closer, there will be active involvement by trade unions with the MSJ on the ground in Point Fortin. Abdulah hinted the OWTU would be one of the unions joining the party in that exercise.