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For Immediate
Release
15th July 2004
NATUC HOLDS SUCCESSFUL MEETING WITH CHIEF SECRETARY
Representatives of the National Trade Union Centre met with the Chief Secretary of the THA, Mr. Orville London at his Office in Calder Hall, Tobago this morning; the meeting lasted for over two hours and matters discussed were as follows:
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· Cost of Living in Tobago.
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· Housing Construction in Tobago.
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· Training Programme for daily paid workers.
NATUC through its President, Mr. Giuseppi informed the Chief Secretary that the organisation intends to relentlessly pursue the matter of alleviating the astronomical cost of living in Tobago. NATUC estimates that most goods and services in Tobago cost at least 15% more than what is charged in Trinidad. The meeting agreed that NATUC would name a representative to sit on a THA Committee which will be established to deal with this matter. A broader survey is to be conducted and it is estimated that it can cost as much as 60% more to construct a home in Tobago. The Chief Secretary expressed its concern over the great disparity in the cost of living between Tobago and Trinidad.
In the area of Housing it was agreed that NUGFW’s Housing Programme will run parallel to the THA’s programme. The conditions of sale must be pre-determined so that the procedures would be predictable. NUGFW had submitted an open ended Memorandum of Understanding so that it would continue to be relevant for future construction programmes. The first phase of construction would take place at Blenheim. To this end a meeting would be organized between the NUGFW’s technical team on the one hand and on the other hand, the State Council, Chief Administrator and the Secretary of Finance.
There were extensive discussions on a proposed training programme for daily paid workers in Tobago. The NUGFW would be allocating a significant proportion of one million TT Dollars to effect a pilot programme, which is aimed at increasing productivity and committing public sector workers to life long learning.
END