Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

President General of the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), Senator Chester Humphrey has called on the Grenada Trades Union Council (TUC) to hold a day of massive protest to demand better accountability from the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration.

He made the call in light of the announcement by government to impose a 5% tax on workers, which will go towards the Reconstruction and Development Fund (RDF) to assist the country in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Humphrey was addressing workers at the at the annual May Day rally held Sunday at Victoria Park in Grenville.

The celebration, organised by TUC, was held under the theme "Fifty Years of Championing Workers Rights and Continuing". Sen. Humphrey told the large gathering that there has been a blatant misuse of government funds by the NNP regime of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and pointed to the $152 million National Stadium which collapsed at Queen's Park during the passage of Ivan.

The Labour Representative in the Upper House noted that Hurricane Ivan also affected Jamaica and Florida but their stadiums remained in tact and did not collapse as the one in St. George's. "And so the challenge for the TUC is to organise the most massive demonstration in the history of Grenada to oppose the 5% tax, government plans to impose on you the workers", he told the rally. "Workers have to get serious", he said.

The trade unions on the island have said that while they are supportive of the tax measure in principle, they insist that the government should have first met with them to discuss how it can be implemented.

Sen. Humphrey told the gathering that the time has come for the labour force to step up the pressure on the ruling administration since a new government is needed in the country. "They (NNP) must go because they are incapable of managing the resources of the country, let us go back to the polls", he remarked.

Sen. Humphrey also warned the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party favoured to replace the present administration, that it will not be business as usual whenever it takes office.

He pointed out that if the Congress is found mismanaging the country as the present administration was doing then they could expect the same treatment from workers. In her address, President of the Public Workers Union (PWU) Madonna Harford called on the Mitchell government to show some sensitivity.
She wondered how workers were supposed to contribute 5% of their wages towards the Reconstruction and Development Fund (RDF) while a large majority of them continued to sleep underneath tarpaulins in their house.

She feared that any deduction in their salaries would result in more hardships since public sector employees will only be getting a 4.5% increase in June while Government is taking away 5%. According to Harford, a former Permanetnt Secretary with government, 2005 is not the year to impose taxes on workers since it should be a time of recovery for them and the country as a whole.

The PWU President noted that prior to Ivan, there were several reports around indicating how well Grenada was doing but within a matter of months the economy had collapsed so drastically. Harford questioned whether the Mitchell government was indeed giving a true picture of the financial situation facing the country.

The rally was also addressed by President of the Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (CIWU), Elliot Bishop who brought solidarity message on behalf of his union. Bishop described the 5% tax as burdensome and questioned the reason behind government's decision to go ahead and announce the tax without first holding dialogue with the TUC on such an important issue.

He stressed that the principle behind the levy is a good one but felt that the quantum was far too high. He offered some suggestions on ways in which monies can be generated including legislation for promoters of reggae and gospel shows to contribute a percentage of their earnings to assist in the reconstruction effort.

Bishop also said that government should hold dialogue with commercial banks in the country with the aim of getting them to lower their interest rates so that people can borrow to repair their homes. President General of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Marvin Andall who chaired the proceedings said that if there was ever a time for workers rights to be defended in the country is now.

He pointed out that a large percentage of the population is still living under tarpaulins because they are unable to do repairs on their homes. Andall insisted that the TUC cannot afford to remain silent on the issue of the 5% reduction on workers' wages since the decision was made by government without consultation.

There would be serious times ahead, he said since the imposition of the new tax will bring out the militancy of workers in the country.