Saturday, November 21 2009

Labour Minister Rennie Dumas yesterday said plans to shutdown business operations by the People’s Democracy next Monday and Tuesday will not improve the situation currently affecting the country.

Interviewed after a function at the Sports Ministry, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, Dumas said any plans to shutdown the country are deliberate plans to destabilise the country and deprive citizens of access to goods and service.

“We are saying that the arguments are not justifiable and we are suggesting a shutdown will not be useful and will not contribute to productivity. It will do nothing to improve the country’s situation,” he said. Government, he said, had no contingency plans in the event the shutdown is successful. Dumas then criticised the leaders of the group calling for the shutdown.

“Workers have to manage their leaders. These individuals like to postulate and say the Government is about dictatorship but most time the leadership of these groups and organisations are haranguing people to stay home and participate in such activities. Most of the calls made to shutdown the country are made by people who have been rejected as representatives of the people. They presented themselves to be elected and the people said no or not at this time,” he said.