4 november 1998
According to Ronald Hooghart, secretary-general of the CLO, the time has come for Parliament
to make a choice. If it does not choose in favor of the people then it should resign. Hooghart is of
the opinion that Parliament's choice should be for the people because the people had put them in.
During a gathering of civil workers under the MAMABON yesterday, the secretary-general
pointed out that they have chosen for a just and fair fight leaving no room open for corruption.
After he had spoken with the members they then moved on to the National Assembly where a
child was asked to hand over the petition to Parliament. This was accepted by Mrs Burleson the
assistant clerk at the Assembly. Before the DNA building, Hooghart stated that the people have
voted for the members of this institution to fight for the rights of the people and not to receive
dollars from "Mr Dollarpersad." He also stated that they were not voted in to act as servants for
the President to be used in voting for unjust increases that enables a few to earn a lot of money
while the rest of the people does not have enough to eat. After the petition was presented it was
announced that the civil workers would meet today at the SPA centrum for further instructions.
UNIONS AZ AND BPSG
The Unions representing the workers at the Academic Hospital and those at the sluices and
pumpstations attached to the Ministry of Public Works have decided to hold actions. The
members are not satisfied with the way in which they are being treated by their employers.
According to a report that was sent out by the ABPLAZ (Hospital Union), the members are tired
of waiting on an agreement. The report states that discussions between the different hospital
unions and their directors have already been held and that partial-agreements were made with the
understanding that parties would again come together to discuss the secondary benefits. The
directors have not kept their word in this and the members have decided not to wait any longer
but to hold discussions and actions to achieve their goals. Personnel members from the Academic
Hospital will go to the Ministry of Health today to seek information in this matter. Union Leader
Fred van Russel stated that the members are prepared to see this through to the very end. The
Union representing the sluice and pumpstation workers attached to the Ministry of Public Works
is also in action. The members working on the sluices have been given dispensation. This was
decided at a general meeting held yesterday. Union Leader Mike Sallons explained that the union
had tried several times to set up a meeting with the Ministry to discuss the desired package. In its
first letter dated August 1st, the Union had asked for a meeting with the delegation that was
appointed to hold discussions with them. The Union then received an invitation for a meeting that
was scheduled for October 28 which was later postponed to October 30 and was later canceled.
According to the report the Ministry of Public Works has refused to give a specific date on which
the meeting will now take place. The Union, fed up with all the cancellations has given the
Ministry until November 8 the time to set up this meeting. If by that date no reaction has been
received from the Ministry, then the Union will reconsider the dispensation of the sluice workers.
PROTESTING CUSTOM OFFICERS DRIVE IN CONVOY TO MINISTRY
OF FINANCE
Custom officers drove in convoy to the Ministry of Finance to protest against the way in which
the Ministry is taking its time to settle the labor agreement that should have been signed before
the ending of October. Union Leader Romeo Chin A Loi presented the petition that was meant
for Minister Tjan Gobardhan to Andre Lisse because the Minister had stepped out of the country
for a day. Another petition was handed to Minister Bies Mangal who is acting as Minister of
Finance in Gobardhan's absence. In the petition it was stated that the members are still waiting
on the agreement, that members have not received any salary increases while groups have
received increases this year. Also they demand that a meeting should be set up at once to discuss
this. Andre Lisse has invited the Union to a meeting today at 8 am. In the mean while the
members will continue their actions.
-End-