N.T.U.C.B.’s Jackie Willoughby calls out PM
We reported in our newscast on Thursday that the National Trade Union Congress was kicking up dust with three issues: the K.H.M.H. Inquiry, the Venezuelan Housing money and the Amendment to the Essential Services Act. And while they feel they have been slighted, the N.T.U.C.B. says it is open to dialogue. Still, P.S.U. President, Jackie Willoughby is not letting the PM off the hook and pulled out the U.D.P. manifesto. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has a report.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
After rejection by Housing Minister, Michael Finnegan, and Cabinet to be part of the oversight committee for the Venezuela Housing project, the N.T.U.C.B. says it is willing to talk.
Javier Roberts, Gen. Secretary, N.T.U.C.B.
“We do want to participate and we are willing to discuss with the prime minister and we have sent our request and we expect a response as soon as he returns.”
On the issue of the amendment to the Essential Services Act, they also wanted to discuss.
Javier Roberts
“We are implementing that, we are following that, we are giving the process a chance.”
Jose Sanchez
“How long are you willing to wait until you find another route to achieve your goal?”
Javier Roberts
“That will all depend on the outcome off the discussion if we do have a discussion.”
The PM made it clear on July twenty-ninth, that the proposed amendment to the settlement of disputes Essential Services Act was a result of the actions of doctors towards the alleged corruption and bloated contracts at the K.H.M.H.
Jose Sanchez
“The N.T.U.C.B., they are not happy with the Essential Services Act. They feel it is a result of what the doctors did. Is that what it is?”
Prime Minister Dean Barrow (July 29th, 2009)
“Yes it is. Yes it is. What the doctors did pointed out to me the loopholes in the Essential Services Act. I make absolutely no apologies and the N.T.U.C.B. will have to understand that this government was elected to govern which means looking after the interests of anyone, of all the citizens but recognizing when a larger public interest trumps the interests of any individual grouping.”
The N.T.U.C.B.’s only other game plan was writing to the International Labour Organization.
Paul Perriott, 1st Vice President N.T.U.C.B.
“They write these conventions and recommendations dealing with fair employment and freedom of association. So we would be writing to them to get their support in terms of these amendments that are amendments that are being proposed.”
It is highly unlikely that discussions or writing will change the government’s stance on the Essential Services Act.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow (July 29th, 2009)
“You can in fact come to the government and say that you have a dispute and the law provides for a methodology for dealing with disputes. It’s not as though their grievances won’t be redressed. I don’t know why they would think the only way to redress those grievances is to engage in the kind of industrial action that will disrupt and dislocate an essential service. I want to signal this point very clearly again, the government was elected to govern. An essential aspect of governing is looking after the interest of the majority of the society and the interest of a few must give way to the interest of the majority. The government has no apology to make with respect to this. If the N.T.U.C.B. wants to continue with the kind of irresponsible rhetoric I’ve been hearing from them, if they want to threaten war, bring it on. There will be no retreat absolutely from what we are doing, because it is the right thing to do.”
Thursday’s press conference would have been deflated were it not for PSU president Jackie Willoughby who called out the PM on manifesto promises.
Jackie Willoughby, President, P.S.U.
“There are those of us who may say the Trade Union Congress plays politics. Well everything we do is politics; the light bill that’s politics. What we do not play at the Trade Union Congress is red or blue politics. He said in the opening, if any of you have and wish to follow “National Reconstruction then must stand on foundation stones of openness, honesty, and transparency. But it must clearly have thereafter as the brick and mortar of its building blocks, economic rescue and social and moral renewal.” The page immediately thereafter in the last sentence of the second caption says, and the second caption by the way is “Good Governance.” It says “A vital first step to restoring responsible governance is to hold our own elected representatives accountable for how they govern and manage the people’s resources.” Are these just words written on a book to win an election?”
The Prime Minister returns to office on Monday and we will see if he will want to reconsider. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
