rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt
Protests by health workers around the country are now on hold due to the ongoing unrest around the nation’s capital and ongoing discussion with respective Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).
Wednesday’s mass action by the T&T Registered Nurses’ Association (TTRNA) was postponed over fears of the safety of its members due to ongoing riots and protest action around Port-of-Spain. TTRNA president Idi Stuart told Guardian Media yesterday that the association would not resume action as long as the unrest is ongoing. However, he noted that the association is now weighing its options which includes moving the protest to South Trinidad where this is yet to be any significant outbreak of protest action.
A few weeks ago, the TTRNA assumed action to have outstanding increments be paid in full to nurses and nursing staff. But despite the North Central Regional Health Authority agreeing to and subsequently paying 100 per cent of the outstanding increments, the TTRNA believes its action is necessary for its other plights to be heard.
The Public Service Association (PSA) was also carded to conduct protest action over the course of the week. However, PSA head Watson Duke said the association is holding its hand on its demonstration due to ongoing discussions with the respective RHAs which they are hoping for a positive outcome.
“We are meeting with the RHAs, we are having favourable discussions. Things are looking up and we are monitoring it,” Duke told Guardian Media.
“We met with South West yesterday. A number of positive things came out of that for the workers...we should be seeing some middle of the month/month-end. We are meeting with North Central and Eastern on next week Tuesday and we expect positive things to come out of that.”
Duke said they would be monitoring these discussions while “reserving our right to take the action necessary to further the ends of our discussions.”