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

The Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC) has been sent packing by the ruling New National Party (NNP) Administration as the main mediator in its dispute with trade unions on the island over the controversial National Reconstruction Levy (NRL).

That’s the view of Acting President of the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC, Madonna Harford who met with reporters Wednesday to update them on the current situation with the Keith Mitchell-led government on the levy.

Harford told reporters that the GCIC informed the umbrella trade union body at a meeting on Tuesday that they have come to the conclusion that they were “unceremoniously dismissed” by government in the negotiations.

The island's leading private sector body is known to have taken issue with government on its latest statement released to the nation on the matter of the tax.

According to Harford, in light of the statement from the chamber, the TUC is now calling on the Conferences of Churches of Grenada (CCG), one of the mediators to take a more meaningful role in the discussion. She said the GCIC has been unable to present to Government the TUC’s latest proposal on the controversial levy because every effort by the private sector organisation to meet with government was unsuccessful.

However, while the trade union movement vowed to continue the fight against the levy, the TUC regards the decision of the Mitchell government to reduce the rate from 5% to 3% for the period January to June as a significant accomplishment for workers. In addition, Harford pointed out that the struggle being waged by the TUC is more than the just the 3% - 5% levy, but also a fight for good governance in the country.

When asked by a reporter if the TUC is now backing down from its original strong stand against the levy, Harford made it clear that this is far from the case. During the 2006 Budget debate this week, a significant amount of time was spent by Government ministers lambasting the TUC and accusing certain members of trying to create unrest in the country.

Prime Minister Mitchell referring to the TUC as part of the setup of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The Grenadian leader charged that same elements leading the TUC are the same ones running the Congress party.

In response, TUC’s executive member and President-General of the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), Senator Chester Humphrey responded by pointing out that the TUC is indeed “a political movement”. Humphrey made it clear that all Trade Unions are affiliated to political parties and as such the TUC is no different.

However, he said that each member of the Council is free to be affiliated with any political parties of its choice. TUC officials also took the opportunity to thank all their members who turned out for last week Friday’s “Red Day” protest against the implementation of the levy. The leaders have said that they were quite satisfied with the turnout.