Kamla Stands in Solidarity with Unions and Workers – Support day of Rest and Reflect
-We agree that our beloved country is in crisis as a result of the incompetence, waste, corruption and mismanagement of the Rowley Government.
Citizens continue to be robbed, raped and slaughtered by criminal activity with impunity.
The health sector continues to be a source of grave concern as citizens are unable to access basic healthcare, medicine and specialist services.
The Country’s education system is failing to adequately prepare our children for the age of technology and the world of work.
The nation’s infrastructure has been abandoned with flooding becoming a daily experience for many.
Our social services have been drastically cut down and many in desperate need of support have been abandoned, including children and adults with special needs and the elderly.
Our economy is collapsing under massive national debt, foreign exchange shortage and the closure of small and medium sized businesses as business confidence crumples, except for the very wealthy.
In fact in every sphere of Governance, this country has regressed and no amount of public relations gimmickry and spin doctoring can change that.
What is worse is that while this is going on, the Government is intent on creating mass unemployment, shutting down state enterprises, cancelling CEPEP contracts, failing to pay contractors, even those in the school feeding programme. At the same time citizens are being taxed to oblivion whilst family, friends and financiers of the government continue to benefit in secret deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars, for which they refuse to account.
The straw that broke the camels back is the open threat against the working population by the Prime Minister and his Ministers to prevent them from exercising their democratic right as citizens.
Martin Niemuller, a cleric, who opposed the Nazis and the rise of naziism (which resulted in mass genocide), famously said :
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—but there was no one left to speak for me.
Now is not the time to stand aside. We must join hands together.
Given the present state of our beloved Nation, I am of the view that we as citizens need to remind this Rowley Government that the taxpayers have hired them to govern, to use the national resources for the national good, to safeguard life, limb and property and to account to citizens.
Tomorrow’s “Day to Rest and Reflect” is not a protest march or a rally; it is a day to either join with all citizens in a common front or for you to stay at home and rest and reflect on the state of our country at this time. Should you decide to join with your fellow citizens in being part of a national congregation, then do so and wear a black attire.
As a result, I am recommending that on Friday September 7th 2018, you and your staff and friends and family take the opportunity to rest and reflect on our current circumstances and plan a way forward. If you do have to go out, wear black.
In support of this initiative, I hereby advise that the headquarters of the United National Congress and other offices of the party be closed. Further, the Office of the MP for Siparia and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition will also be closed.
I look forward to your support.
One voice, one people, one Nation under God.
Regards,
Kamla Persad Bissessar, MP, SC