MSJ gives partnership until May 24 to settle 10 major issues

As former Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader Errol McLeod settles into his temporary Prime Ministerial post, the MSJ has outlined 10 major issues for the People's Partnership to address as a condition for staying in the governing coalition. And it has set a deadline of May 24 - the second anniversary of the Partnership's electoral victory - to get the answers.

MSJ political leader David Abdulah told reporters Sunday the MSJ has been discussing the state of governance and the MSJ’s role in the coalition and members have raised certain matters relating to policy.

“These policy decisions, we believe, have been in conflict with the interests of labour, whose interest we represent,” he said, noting that the party represents ALL working people. Abdullah claimed that the Government has demonstrated a “lack of respect and regard for labour”.

Abdulah said, “the Government attacked the trade unions by way of the attempt to impose a one-size-fits-all wage cap of five per cent which, had it succeeded, would have undermined the free collective bargaining process.”

He added, “We are not prejudging, but we do think that two years into the partnership is a significantly long enough time for us to fulfill the commitments which we made to the population of the country in the Fyzabad declaration and also in the manifesto.”

Abdulah said the MSJ has informed its former leader, Minister of Labour, Errol McLeod of its decision.

The 10 issues are:

1. Settlement of negotiations in a fair and equitable manner consistent with the free collective bargaining process
2. Fair share of State resources to communities and the equitable distribution of jobs
3. Reduced rights of land tenure and massive increase of lease rates to farmers without consultation
4. Governance: process of constitution reform and local government reform, addressing state sector governance, cutting all forms of discrimination, political victimisation, corruption, nepotism and patronage
5. Getting rid of the odious system of contract labour in the public service and state sectors
6. Privatisation, especially of Petrotrin (Trinmar’s acreage) and First Citizens
7. Advancing the agenda of Labour Law reform
8. The protection of the livelihoods of fisherfolk
9. Implementing the cultural sector agenda, as committed to in the manifesto
10. Establishing a policy position so as to stop the use of force by the Police Service to frustrate, intimidate and stop the legitimate and peaceful activities of civil society, including peaceful protest action by workers and the rights of the media