The Grenada Trade Union Council (GTUC) has declared January 2006 as the Month of Protest action in the country if the ruling New National Party (NNP) government fails to withdraw by December 31 a 5 percent levy being imposed on the salaries of workers.

The TUC Executive body met on Monday with reporters at a press conference on the Carenage to announce its action plan against the Keith Mitchell-led government.

Acting TUC President, Madonna Harford who heads the Public Workers Union (PWU) said the umbrella body has been mandated by several of its members to ask government to withdraw the 5 percent levy.

The TUC held a special convention on Saturday at the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) when the decision was taken to give management a mandate to take whatever action was deemed necessary.

Harford pointed out that workers cannot pay the 5 percent levy because the cost of living is just too high in the country and because of their own personal debt situation.

She said that the cost of living skyrocketed after hurricanes Ivan and Emily and forced people to borrow from banks and other financial institutions to rebuild their homes or pay their mortgages.

She also referred to the recent increase in gas prices, bus fares, bread and milk.

TUC's 2nd Vice-President Marvin Andall in being critical of the policies of the Mitchell government made mention of its unnecessary spending over the years.

He described the "Vote 340" that is used by the Office of the Prime Minister to pay hundreds of special contract workers as unnecessary and one that the TUC strongly believes is used to give work to political appointees.

According to Andall, the GIS TV Station, which was launched earlier in the year, is also a waste of taxpayer's money.

A school teacher by profession, Andall also labeled as "unnecessary" the number of persons taken on in the public service as Public Relations Officers for a number of government ministries.

He accused the Mitchell government of reaching "a new low when it comes to dialogue with social partners."

The TUC has complained of not getting a favourable response from government to its calls for dialogue on the 5% tax.

The harshest criticisms came from labour's representative in the Senate, Chester Humphrey who said that the people of Grenada no longer believe in the Mitchell government and as such the regime cannot ask the people to pay the levy.

Sen. Humphrey made mention of the relationship which the administration had developed over the years with international crooks and conmen like Victor Kozeny known internationally as the Pirate of Prague, Eric Resteiner and the late offshore banker, Van Brink.

According to Humphrey, some of these men were appointed as Grenada Ambassadors by the Mitchell Government and eventually arrested and charged with fraud.

Sen. Humphrey said the current government has mal-administrated the affairs of Grenada, and touched on the National sporting stadium at Queen's Park, which was expected to be built at no cost to the Grenadian people.

He stated that when the stadium collapsed during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, it was discovered that the sporting facility was not insured and poorly constructed.

Sen. Humphrey also made reference to the millions of dollars wasted by the Mitchell government dye to the Dipcon court case, Mt. Hartman and Levera projects, Call Center in St. Andrew's and the Poultry Project in St. Mark's.

These projects, he said cost the people of the country very heavy financially.

He said that Grenadians should not now be asked to pay for what the Government has wasted and thrown down the drain.

"It is unjust", added Sen. Humphrey who heads the power Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU).

He vowed that the TUC will use all lawful, constitutional and peacefully means to resolve the issue in favour of workers.

The TUC is urging all workers to wear something red on December 30 in anticipation of the start of the mass protest action against the 5% levy.