Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
In a scathing critique of the 2024 Budget, Leo Ramkissoon, the president of the Fire Service Association, accused Finance Minister Colm Imbert of rubbing salt in their wounds despite his promises of a $1 billion backpay in December to public sector workers.
Speaking to Guardian Media on Monday night, Ramkissoon expressed disappointment in the budget, saying it offered no provisions to safeguard the lives of fire officers, who have been risking their lives without proper protective gear.
He said firefighters had held out hope for an injection of funds into the Fire Service for essential equipment, but their expectations were met with disappointment.
“I heard nothing in respect to the Fire Service. I cannot say we are encouraged that we are getting back pay. It’s not to say the back pay is a significant figure considering it is a nine-year period,” Ramkissoon remarked.
He expressed concern about the shortage of equipment in the Fire Service, including appliances, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and breathing apparatus.
“These apparatus are short and officers are going into fires and risking their own lives. This backpay can do little for us.
“Yes, we need money to support our families, but in the grand scheme of things it does not address what we need to do our jobs,” Ramkissoon said.
He cited the Industrial Court’s influence on the negotiations and called for a revisitation of both the Industrial Relations Act and the Fire Services Act.
Ramkissoon emphasised the need for an independent appointment process for the court to eliminate any appearance of undue influence during salary negotiations.
“There was nothing more in the budget for us. The minister spoke about other agencies, so clearly his priority is them, not us,” Ramkissoon said.
Ramkissoon said he had hoped that the ten people who died in fires this year and the hundreds of millions in property loss would have triggered the Government to make special mention of the fire service in the 2024 Budget presentation.
“This is horrendous. I have to go back to the membership and get their views,” he said, adding that while the PSIP promised new facilities and vehicles in the next three years, it would have been more impactful to have Imbert reference specific improvements to the fire service.
CWU welcomes minimum wage increase to $20.50
Also commenting on the budget was Clyde Elder, secretary-general of the Communication Workers Union.
He welcomed the increase in the minimum wage to $20.50, acknowledging the challenging economic climate.
While the budget had not met all their expectations, Elder expressed gratitude for the increase and the book and uniform grant.
He also urged consideration of the impact of Hilton Hotel upgrades on employees, emphasising the importance of offering fair terms to workers.
Guardian Media reached out to Leroy Baptiste of the Public Service Association and Ancel Roget, president of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union but both were unavailable for comment up to late yesterday.