Workers protest policies of Trinidad and Tobago government

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Leaders of at least 12 trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday led workers and others, including politicians, in a protest march against the policies of the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government, even as the prime minister accused them of betraying “common sense” and engaging in racism.

“Sadly, no matter what the UNC (United National Congress) government does for some trade unions, it will never be enough. It is clear that the protest … by these unions and the PNM (main opposition People’s National Movement) is driven by racial and political hatred of the UNC and not by actual efforts to get benefits for their members,” Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said in a statement ahead of the protest.

She would later describe the protest as a “failure” describing it as a “long touted hate protest” against the UNC and telling participants to return to work on Monday.