Minister Cox Must Take Immediate Action on Scrap Iron Workers Plight

The People’s National Movement (PNM) government and the Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox continues to display their wanton arrogance, disregard, and indifference to the entire population by failing to decisively address the scrap iron workers concerns. Despite the protracted protest action and the scrap iron workers calls for dialogue in order to ventilate their situation, the government remains aloof and has refused to accommodate their valid request.

Recent pronouncements by Minister Cox that the affected scrap iron workers can access grants through her line Ministry; whilst this is a mere exercise in public relations, this call has failed to placate their incendiary protest action, since they have not accessed the facilities offered for whatever reason(s).

The workers, according to a newspaper article has espoused their position and limitations in their efforts at accessing the grants online. Therefore, Minister Cox must demonstrate leadership and foresight and address the current situation by undertaking the following:
– Convene a meeting with the affected scrap iron workers in order to satiate their request for an audience with those in authority.
– Reintroduce the Direct Impact Community Outreach Programme.
– Immediately establish a temporary office at the closest available community centre in order to process the scrap iron workers applications if eligible.

It is imperative that these measures be immediately implemented to ensure that the wider population are not subjected to “distress” as experienced earlier. Further, the Minister must be cognisant of the veiled threats to the wider school population and must therefore diffuse the present inflammatory environment.

The present situation demands decisive action and immediate solutions from the government of the day.

MP For Chaguanas East
Vandana Mohit