President general of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget tore up a copy of the United National Congress' (UNC) 2010 election manifesto at a demonstration in Point Fortin on Friday evening. Roget also pledged to shutdown Point Fortin to bring attention to claims of neglect being made by residents. Many, who joined the union in its Joint Trade Union meeting, called for a new hospital and divisional fire station.
The union leader criticised the removal of the CEPEP programme, the proposed privatisation of Trinmar and lent support for the Highway Re-route Movement of Penal/ Debe. At the meeting held at Victor Chin Kit Park, Roget said the UNC document contained "only lies and deceit" and it was necessary to shred it, as they moved forward.
He also told trade unionists, whom he said no longer support Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, to prepare for "massive protests." "We have seen political parties come and we have seen political parties go. We have them come in 2010 and we will seen them go on or before 2015. All the people of Point Fortin, if we do not get these issues addressed, we must prepare to pay a visit to Siparia in their constituency.
"We must be prepared to come off of our laurels and go into Port-of-Spain and deal with these issues. We must be prepared, on a day to be announced, to shutdown Point Fortin. "Close it down completely until we bring attention to all of these issues in Point Fortin. Nothing must come, nothing must go, not even a helicopter in Point Fortin unless they address in a meaningful way all of the issues for the people of Point Fortin," Roget said.
David Abdulah, OWTU general secretary and leader of the Movement for Social Justice, (MSJ), one of the five parties forming the People's Partnership, looked on quietly as Roget slammed PM Persad-Bissessar as he brandished the UNC manifesto.
Roget said instead of a 100-bed hospital being proposed, the Government should consider a 1,000 bed facility, because of the numerous high-risk industries in the area and the wide catchment they cater for. "You say you found 48 million barrels of oil in Point Fortin, so we want a hospital that is fitting to the wealth of Point Fortin," Roget said.
Roget, who is a member of the MSJ executive told Point Fortin residents that they were being victimised because of the way they voted at the last general election. Point Fortin voted the People's National Movement's Paula Gopee-Scoon as Member of Parliament.
Earnest Thompson, who led a mass protest at the a plant in Point Fortin some years ago over safety concerns, said since the People's Partnership came into power, they have removed the CEPEP and raised the unemployment level. Admitting that the PNM had done little for their community, he said they are faring worse under the current regime.
Jamal Pierre, representing the young adults of La Brea, said the Government has failed the youth and in their attempts to deliver most of their promises. He questioned why the Government would choose to build a new children's hospital in Couva when there is a need for a general hospital in Point Fortin.
