Finally, David Abdulah has spoken out in defence of Dwayne Gibbs and Jack Ewatski, now that they have both resigned. It was strange that when these heads of the Police Service were vilified and ridiculed by the Opposition PNM and other "enemies" of the Government, Abdulah never uttered a single word in defence of them, though he was part of the Government then. Strangely, Abdulah and those of his ilk never responded to the needs of this society in a holistic manner. They have always concerned themselves with protecting their narrow "workers' turf"-not workers per se but "bourgeoise workers" represented by the OWTU where a labourer is rewarded with the salary of a graduate teacher.
Abdulah must present to the nation a comparison of the compensation packages of the workers that the OWTU represents with that of workers in the agricultural sector or those employed as daily-paid staff in the Ministry of Local Government. Such a comparison would reveal that there is a gross disparity in the distribution of wages and conditions of work, thus placing a large section of workers at an economic and social disadvantage. What was Abdulah's opinion on the VSEP packages for ex-Caroni workers? Has Abdulah ever concerned himself with the long delays by successive governments in the delivery of lands promised to them?
Abdulah and his OWTU have created an "economic apartheid" system among workers in this country. This social and economic disparity is responsible for the so-called "haves and have-nots" in our society and is fuelling crime in the country-men spouting socialist doctrine but enjoying a Volvo lifestyle. What a shame. Abdulah need not mourn for Gibbs and Ewatsky. He should mourn for the non-energy workers who have to purchase goods and services in the same markets where his workers shop. Is this a case of income apartheid?
DH Singh
Chaguanas