Last Updated on April 12, 2025, 11:55 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago, United National Congress Party has promised to advance the workers agenda. While criticizing the People’s National Movement, the UNC party reiterated its commitment to paying workers their backpay and providing better wages. She added that the UNC party is committed towards ensuring higher quality of life for all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
The UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar further slammed the PNM for pushing a narrative against workers and attacking the UNC’s policies which are aimed at making life easier and more affordable for working citizens. However, she highlighted about the UNC’s vision for workers and said that they are committed to advance the workers agenda and reject the unjust 4% and 5% wage increases imposed on State workers.
The UNC leader reaffirmed their commitment to engaging in a fair collective bargaining process through the office of the Chief Personnel Officer.
PNM Government responsible for cutting benefits of Trinidadians
She further criticized the PNM Government for spending over $530 billion and added that they are now complaining about a UNC government wanting to pay backpay to workers.
Highlighting the double standards of the PNM Government, the Opposition leader Kamla Persad noted, “This new Minister of Finance, Vishnu Dhanpaul, is on record in the newspaper yesterday condemning the UNC because we want to pay workers back pay and better wages. This is the same Vishnu Dhanpaul that was the main adviser of the permanent secretary to whom? Imbert. For years, for the last nine years, he was also the high commissioner to the United Kingdom. And what happened? They imposed visa restrictions on Trinidad.”
She added that the statement of Dhanpaul directly clarifies that PNM Government has no intention of paying any backpay or increasing salaries if re-elected. She added that, “The Minister of Finance is saying nothing for workers over the next five years. On the twenty eighth, vote them all out.”
The Opposition leader further continued to criticize People’s National Movement and said that they are responsible for wiping off over 60,000 small businesses, property tax, electricity and water rate increases, fuel price increases. She therefore encouraged the citizens to vote those people out who are responsible for cutting benefits that the people of Trinidad and Tobago deserves.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
