President general of the Banking and General Workers' Union (BIGWU) Vincent Cabrera has predicted that the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) will soon detach itself from the People's Partnership Government. Speaking at the May Day rally, held close to the Trinidad Cement Ltd strike camp, Claxton Bay yesterday, Cabrera said the People's Partnership was being controlled by the United National Congress (UNC).
He added: "I think that very soon, the MSJ will unlatch itself from the UNC because it is not a partnership, it is a UNC government. It is them who are calling the shots. "I am here to ask every worker in T&T to support the MSJ. Forget the politics of race and enter the politics of class.
"Make the MSJ a strong and vibrant working class party so it can represent farmers, poor people and the working class." He also pledged support to general secretary of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), David Abdulah, who has been criticised after showing support for the Highway Re-route Movement, led by environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh.
He said: "There are some fellas who have been criticising David Abdulah. To hell with Jack Warner. Warner, go and sit in a corner and leave the re-route activists alone. Leave farmers alone. "The PNM (People's National Movement) and UNC are two sides of the same coin. They don't want to go back for a referendum. Why they afraid of the people and the workers?" he asked.
Cabrera said trade union leaders, who absented themselves from the struggle without any reasonable cause, were traitors to the working class. Meanwhile, president general of the OWTU, Ancel Roget said the MSJ must be the vehicle to take the country forward. He said slavery existed today and many citizens did not realise they were enslaved by capitalists.
President general of the T&T Unified Teachers' Association, Roustan Job, said teachers were engaged in a "war" with Government and over 16,000 teachers were prepared to stand up to the "oppression" of Government. During yesterday's rally, a donation was collected to assist the TCL strikers, who are on the 65th day of their strike. The workers had various delicacies on sale, the proceeds of which will go towards the upkeep of the camp.