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Pillars of Brinsley Samaroo’s achievements
Monday, July 17, 2023
Attributes of the Incoming President
Friday, December 30, 2022
Venezuela Clinging at Legal Straws to Delay the ICJ Arbitration with Guyana
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The British Re-Conquest of India
Friday, November 11, 2022
Tribute to Horace Hollister Broomes
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Keep Adversarial Domestic Politics at Home
Monday, August 22, 2022
SEA Results Must be Published
Sunday, July 3, 2022
The Indentures Did Not Affect the Wages of the "Apprentices"
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Indian Arrival Day Celebrations Not Historically Driven
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
India's Strange UN Abstention Vote on Condemning Russian Aggression
Wednesday, March 16, 2022


Archive

The People's Democracy

Public Statement

Posted: November 25, 2009

At a meeting held yesterday, the below listed organizations discussed the very many problems and issues that affect our members and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. This was not the first such discussion in which our organizations have participated, though earlier discussions would not have involved us all at the same time. We have all, in our respective spaces and in our own way, been involved in trying to inform, educate and organize our members and the wider citizenry to engage in actions around issues.

We highlight some of the major problems that affect us today:

  • Crime and violence
  • The Property Tax - No Taxation without Representation
  • Continuing high food prices and the neglect by the Government of food production by our farmers and fisherfolk
  • The lack of regard for transparency and accountability as evidenced by the scandals surrounding the Integrity Commission and the Uff Enquiry into UDeCOTT.
  • The mis-use of our patrimony to pursue mega projects rather than address the basic needs of citizens (health care, education etc) and communities (flooding, water etc)
  • Disregard for the dignity of labour and the attacks on the institutions of labour and of the co-operative sector
  • The lack of concern for the well being and welfare of the elderly (decent pensions etc)
  • An attempt to further entrench a concentration of power in the hands of the Executive as evidenced by the proposals for reform of the Constitution and Local Government.

All of these issues, and the very many others that affect citizens, display a lack of concern and regard for the welfare and well-being of citizens. In this regard we share a common cause.

We all recognise that in order for us to address the issues and have the problems resolved we need to develop a shared understanding of the crisis that the nation now faces. Our consensus is that the principal issue which we must address, the one that is at the root of our problems is that of the system of governance.

We need to fashion a governance system that moves us away from a system and culture of "maximum leadership" to one of "maximum participation" and from a polarized political environment of "winner take all" to "all take win". Good governance is a necessary precondition to good government, which implies that decisions will stand the tests of justice, equity, transparency and accountability. Without good government we will never be able to achieve our aspirations and build a nation in which every citizen can develop to his or her fullest potential.

We also share the consensus that given the nature of the problems that we face, organizations have to move away from isolated efforts to engage in actions around the issue(s) that may affect their members to actions in which all citizens can participate.

In short, there is an imperative need for:

  1. A collective effort to engage our communities - both geographical communities and of communities of interest - in a process of sharing information and experiences; to wit a process of education and raising awareness.
  2. Collective action by which citizens can together express their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation and opposition to various policies that affect them adversely.

To this end we have agreed on the following actions:

  1. The holding of a "Citizens' Assembly" on Saturday November 7th to which all civil society organizations are invited
  2. Five days of citizens' action comprised of:
    • Red Days - Wear Something Red on Friday November 20th and Saturday November 21st
    • A Mass Rally on Sunday November 22nd
    • Stay at Home Days - Monday November 23rd and Tuesday November 24th
  3. To engage in a process of public information and education both in the lead up to these five days and after.

We have also agreed that this process in which we shall collectively be involved will be carried out under the banner of "The People's Democracy". The following organizations subscribe to this statement of intent as of today's date (2009 October 25). However, during the coming days and weeks we will be dialoguing with many other organizations, some of whom have participated in our discussions, in order that "The People's Democracy" can truly reflect the diversity of interests and communities that are concerned about the state of the nation and share our consensus on the nature of the issues and the way forward.

ALL TRINIDAD GENERAL WORKERS' UNION

AMALGAMATED WORKERS' UNION

BANKING, INSURANCE AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION

CANE PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

CATTLEFARMERS' ASSOCIATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

CARONI ASSEMBLY OF VILLAGERS

CLAXTON BAY FISHERMENS' ASSOCIATION

CLAXTON BAY RESOURCE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

COMMUNICATION WORKERS' UNION

COMMUNITIES UNITED TO FIGHT UNDERDEVELOPMENT

CONSTITUTION REFORM FORUM

CONTRACTORS AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION

EAST PORT OF SPAIN COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

EMPEROR VALLEY ZOO STAFF ASSOCIATION

ESTATE POLICE ASSOCIATION

FEDERATION OF INDPENDENT TRADE UNIONS AND NGOS

FIRE SERVICE ASSOCIATION

GOVERNMENT DAILY PAID RETIREES ASOCIATION

LA BREA CITIZENS UNITED

MANZANILLA WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS' ASSOCIATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

MUSICIANS UNION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

NATIONAL LAND TENANTS AND RATE PAYERS' ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL PETROLEUM STAFF ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL TRADE UNION CENTRE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

NATIONAL UNION OF DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES

NATIONAL UNION OF GOVERNMENT AND FEDERATED WORKERS

OILFIELDS WORKERS' TRADE UNION

ONE VOICE

PRISON OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

RICE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

RIGHTS ACTION GROUP

SEAMEN AND WATERFRONT WORKERS' UNION

SOU SOU LANDS CO-OP SOCIETY

STEEL WORKERS' UNION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS' UNION

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POSTAL WORKERS' UNION

TRINIDAD YOUTH COUNCIL

UNION OF MEMBERS' CLUBS AND LOTTERY WORKERS

WALLERFIELD FARMERS AND ALLIED WELFARE ASSOCIATION

YESTT




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