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

Labour unions in Grenada have threatened a national shutdown over government's decision to impose a 3% National Reconstruction Levy which some refer to as a return to “Income Tax”.

Leader of the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), Senator Chester Humphrey, told workers at a protest rally held at the Grand Anse Basketball Court last week Friday, that they should prepare for a lock-down of the country.

Humphrey spoke before a sea of red workers estimated to be 2000 strong as the Grenada Trade Union Council (GTUC) made good on its promise to stage a peaceful protest against Government's planned implementation of the levy.

The inclement weather was insufficient to deter the Hundreds of workers who turned out and participated in the peaceful protest walk clad in red, singing along to DJ music blasting from a truck which accompanied the protesters.

The anti-NRL gathering carried a number of placards blasting the Keith Mitchell government for trying to remove money from their salaries to aid in the reconstruction effort. “Keith Have Mercy, Me Take Home Pay Is $0.00”, and “Enough Is Enough, The Bucket Overflow Workers Can’t Take No More” were two of the notable placards displayed by the protesting workers.

As the workers marched from the Golf Course Gap to the nearby Tennis Court, the Minister of Finance, Anthony Boatswain was giving details of the levy at the heavily guarded Grenada Trade Centre, less than a mile away.

When the protesters gathered at the Court they were addressed by leaders of eight trade unions including Acting President of GTUC, Madonna Harford who is the leader of the Public Workers Union (PWU).
The union leaders stressed that the imposition of the "Income Tax" will create greater hardships for workers who are already burdened by the passages of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily in a space of ten months.

President of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Marvin Andall told the gathering that the levy comes at a time when workers in the country are already overburdened, bus fees have increased and cost of living has sky rocketed.

In his address, Sen. Humphrey touched on some of the criticisms levelled against him by Prime Minister Mitchell who has consistently accused the TAWU boss of trying “to mash up” the country and to bring down the NNP regime. He said that of all the propaganda levelled against him by the Grenadian leader, the only one that is true is that he has fought all governments in the past and the present one.

According to Humphrey, the more the PM tries to bring him down, it is more positive that it was impacting on him and that he will continue to fight all governments for the rights of workers. He said that while he supports the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) if the party gets into power and decides to trample on the rights of workers he will definitely be ready to stand against them.

The Acting GTUC President Madonna Harford sent a clear message to the NNP Administration that this issue they are protesting against is a bread and butter one, and not a fight against anybody or any government.

Again stressing the point that workers are unable to pay after being badly affected levelled by Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, Harford asked the question: “How could you now ask the people to pay to the NRL”. She stated that if workers in Grenada are called upon to make sacrifices then that must come from the top.

“It must start on top, Why must some people get more and more and more and more and some get less and less and less.... we have to stand up,” she remarked.

The GTUC leader pointed out that there are children presently in the country who because of the increase in bus fares cannot go to school everyday, while others in the rural areas have to beg for rides or beg for money in order to go to school. She called on workers to stand up and fight for their rights, and assured the workers that the trade union umbrella body will always be there to fight for their cause.

Harford charged that the wastage of the country’s finances by the current government is the reason why workers are being asked to dip further into their pockets.

She called on Prime Minister Mitchell to stop the wastage, stop the lavish regular travelling and stay in the country to do the business of the people. “Enough is enough. Some workers are taking home less than $100, yet still they are being asked to make additional sacrifices, Harford said.