No Love Lost Despite Audrey Matura-Shepherd Not Being Initially Invited to Meeting

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

When the prime minister requested an audience with the N.T.U.C.B. on the issue of the controversial Petrocaribe Loans Act, the invitation was rather specific: all were welcomed to attend except firebrand union rep Audrey Matura-Shepherd.  That offer came on the heels of Matura’s frankness on Senator Ray Davis’ abstention from voting on the passage of the bill.  That was a few weeks ago.  Today, the outspoken unionist sat at the negotiating table with the P.M. and after listening keenly, offered her two cents on the proposed amendments.  She said it was never a personal issue.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, CWU

“I don’t take it personal you know, I understand politics.  I have been around the prime minister when I was in the U.D.P. and now I know the nature of his politics, sometimes he is very quick to say things but then when cooler heads prevail he sees that there’s no sense.  I mean his people that follow him in terms of the people, especially on Wave Radio, they take lead and make attacks but I can’t take those things personal because at the end of the day that’s just a distraction.  I came to the meeting, I think it was rather polite and cordial, I had my input.  We met before as a general council.  The general council discussed before some of the points and it was clear cut, everybody had the opportunity to chime in, not everybody did but clearly I listened and I chimed in where it was important for me to chime in. One of the key or two of the key offensive parts of the original act was not being changed but there are other areas that we’ve been clamoring as a union and I personally have spoken against it directly when it comes to issues of accountability and transparency.  Those are being addressed and we were told that we could send in and submit the proposed changes we’d want and that’s what we will do.”