The joint trade union movement came out in full force yesterday after 107 days of being "suppressed" because of the state of emergency.President of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union Ancel Roget said the state of emergency, which prohibited unions from holding marches and meetings, only made them stronger and more unified.He assured that yesterday's demonstration was only smoke and that the fire was yet to come.He also said the "day of reckoning" was near.Roget called on Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams to state how much money the country lost as a result of the emergency.
Hundreds of workers from over a dozen trade unions marched through the streets of Port-of-Spain for almost two hours, braving sun and rain.The entire event, however, lasted about six hours.It was the first major protest since the emergency ended on Monday.Roget said three similar events would be held in Sangre Grande, San Fernando and another in Port-of-Spain.He was among several union leaders to address the crowd at 12 pm after the march.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar received a barrage of criticisms and attacks by several of the leaders.
Roget said: "We have to be better next time around. We have some work to do still."I like the crowd. I am happy that after 107 days we are ready but we have more work to do. We have to go back and do the work."From as early as 8.30 am a handful of workers, wearing their respective union T-shirts, began to assemble at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain.By 10 am, the crowd grew as did police presence in and around the city. Workers, clad in bright yellow, dark blue, green, beige and red T-shirts, were led by their leaders towards Henry Street.
They sang, chanted, shouted, danced and walked through the rain which started around 10.40 am.The protest stopped briefly in front the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer, St Vincent Street, which was closed for the day, in front of the T&T Electricity Commission, Frederick Street, and close to City Hall, Frederick Street, for leaders to send messages to the authorities.Despite the heavy rain, the crowd kept the tempo alive by beating old iron and singing along to union songs from a music truck.Others chose to make the event a "lime" by walking with bottles of alcohol and beers.Roget said the PM should hang her head in shame for a failed state of emergency.He said: "Woman or no woman, you have to do your work."All the fumbling and stumbling and falling down and mis-steps is symptomatic of something else. If you can't do the job, get out!"And if you don't want to get out, we will provide the medium to ensure that happens."
President of the Banking Insurance and General Workers' Union, Vincent Cabrera, said after 107 days of straitjacket the struggle would continue.He urged the workers to bring five others at the following marches because of "the number five game" being played by Government.He said: "We want to tell all of them that it is the labour movement who will determine who wins the next general election in Trinidad and Tobago."
