There appears to be no easy way to define the behaviour of the leaders of the Public Service Association, and the members of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association as they make exorbitant demands on the Government and people of T&T to increase their salaries by percentages that cannot be met by the national purse at this time. There is a global economic crisis. T&T is dependent on foreign markets for oil and natural gas to ensure a healthy national economy. The demands by these leaders who represent their members reek of political wickedness against a new Government which to date has made all efforts to negotiate with the unions in the public interest.
The demand of 40 per cent salary increase by the police association is outrageous, especially in light of the fact that the public has for years been the victim of a Police Service that can only be characterised as inefficient and corrupt. The Government cannot continue along this course of "dishing out" money to union members each and every time they threaten our national security.
The Government should bring legislation to Parliament which significantly weakens the bargaining power of these unions in times of national economic crisis. These self-serving leaders should be made to account for inciting fear in the public and threatening our national security. Enough is enough and the time has come for the people of T&T to speak out against these political actors posing as union leaders and spokesmen for these organisations that have taken taxpayers' money and have not protected and served the citizens of our nation as they have been paid to do.
Selwyn Samaroo
Tennessee