URP workers from Naparima fired during Divali season – Ongoing Victimization
At least 20 URP workers employed in Region 7, some from the Naparima Constituency, recently received dismissal letters. This placed a major damper on their divali celebrations. They are among scores of others from various government agencies who have faced the breadline since the September 7th general elections.
Many of the 20 workers, most of whom are female with no other immediate means of employment, are worried about how their families will fare during the upcoming Christmas season.
According to one worker, “We were called in to the main office in Princes Town and advised that our services were no longer required.”
“It had nothing to do with our performance or our attendance records,” she continued. “It appears to be pure victimization,” she said.
MP for the constituency Rodney Charles said he has received numerous complaints from workers in various state agencies who have either been dismissed or live in fear of being fired. He added that there are currently 25 women attached to a URP programme in his constituency designed to teach employable skills, who are extremely worried about the future of the programme and the small stipend they receive.
The MP noted that constituents of Naparima appear to be “the forgotten children” of this PNM government. “On a per-capita basis, constituents receive less than a quarter of the sums allocated to the THA. We are not saying that Tobagonians should not receive government largess. We are asking for more equity,” Charles said.
“We are informed that constituents of Naparima have greater access to Central Government resources but this is not so. We have only one Health Centre and a single Secondary School in the constituency. Students have to travel sometimes 12 to 15 miles to attend secondary schools in San Fernando, Princes Town and Moruga” the MP explained.
“Some of our top primary schools have serious infrastructural challenges. The Jordan Hill and Brothers Road Presbyterian schools were recently closed because of sewer and other problems.
“No monies have been allocated in this year’s budget for building the Barrackpore ASJA primary school now housed uncomfortably in a nearby mosque.
Crime continues unabated with two recent, serious incidents at, or in the vicinity of, the constituency office.
“Clearly Naparima is not getting its fair share of the national pie,” said Charles
Apart from those affected workers, hundreds if not thousands of workers have been given their termination papers and the perception is that they were either supporters of, or aligned to, the previous People Partnership government.
Dr. Rowley needs to understand that he is now Prime Minister of all of Trinidad and Tobago and must move now to stop this political vindictiveness against citizens of our nation.
Yours Respectfully
………………………………
Rodney Charles
Member of Parliament
Naparima