Approximately 2,000 daily rated workers on the sister isle of Tobago have not been paid for a month.
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Minority Leader Kelvon Morris is now threatening ‘mas’ protest action during the island’s Parade of the Bands on Sunday if those salaries are not paid by the end of the week.
At a virtual press conference yesterday, Morris said he had received multiple calls from daily rated workers at the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries, and Urban Development about late salaries.
Morris pledged to gather all the affected workers and head to Scarborough for the main event of the Carnival season to stage a protest. He said the unpaid workers are prepared to cross the stage at the main judging point.
“Please don’t let Friday pass and them people ain’t get they pay. Because if you want mas, we will make mas on Sunday. If you really want to see mas I will stand up with these CEPEP and daily-rated workers. I would ask them to reach you by the stage on the sea and we would really see mass,” he warned.
Morris questioned Chief Secretary Farley Augustine’s capabilities and capacity to effectively manage and monitor the THA’s finances before criticising him for his inability to manage the THA purse.
“You, Mr Chief Secretary, who is the Secretary of Finance, have not made it a priority that these people get paid. But you know what you’re making a priority? You are ensuring that anything that benefits you and your administration gets paid.
“When secretary have to fly out and go on their fancy trip they get their cheques to go before hand so why these workers are working in the hot son can’t get their pay?
“While the Division is unable to pay their workers, you have a secretary who get off on a trip that have no value, some conference about connectivity. More and more we are seeing this becoming a norm.”