Senator Says Unions Are Not Being Truthful with Membership
The joint unions have clearly expressed their intent to continue striking until they are convinced that the Briceño Administration is serious about good governance. But were the unions asleep at the wheel under the Barrow Administration? According to former attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, he had personally met with the unions in his capacity as A.G. to present them with a list of legislation under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and asked for a list of union priorities. He claims there was no response.
Paul Lopez
“Would you accept that your government failed in implementing UNCAC and legislation under UNCAC?”
Michael Peyrefitte
Senator Michael Peyrefitte, Former Attorney General
“We met with the Unions concerning UNCAC after the United Nations presented their report. The United Nations presented their report and said listen these are the things that you need to do. I personally met with the unions and when we sat down within them, I said this is the document. Now you go through it and you tell us what your priorities are in terms of which of these you want to see pass. I met with them months before the General Elections, and they did not get back with me. They did not get back with me to say ok of the things you have here that were recommended by the United Nations, we want you to implement these. They have not done that. I believe that there is a high chance that when I gave them the document, they did not even read it. When I met with them and presented a solution that would require work then yo can’t mek noise no more, deh had to work. It is unfair that the leadership of the union, at times, does not inform the general membership of their unions. And that is a next thing we need to be full and frank about. Sometimes the union nuh tell the general membership what the result of their talks with the government is, especially with the UDP. Now if we sit with the Unions, give them the documents, tell us what you want to see change and we do not hear from them at all then how it is that we failed?”
Paul Lopez
“Is that to say that the Unions are being disingenuous in saying that the U.D.P. Administration was not serious about good governance and the full implementation of UNCAC?”
Senator Michael Peyrefitte, Former Attorney General
“If they are saying that then they are being disingenuous. I’ll go even further if they are saying that then they are lying. The Prime Minister instructed me, after he sat with the unions, Mr. Attorney General before you recommend the list to cabinet of the laws to be passed, sit with the unions and see which of the laws are their priority. Let them tell you what is the top five or the top ten. When they tell you that, you come back to cabinet and we take steps to pass those laws. The unions did not get back to me, so weh I mih fu do?”
