Commissioner of Police (Ag) McDonald Jacob came under fire yesterday from David Abdullah, leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), following a motorcade organized by the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association (TTSIDA), with the support of The Joint Trade Movement Union (JTUM) was denied entry to the Port of Spain.
As the top cop gave permission for the motorcade, which had a route from the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba to downtown Port of Spain, it was diverted to Barataria.
“Let me say here, first, that this war is a very important war. It is a war for the survival of thousands of people. This fight is a fight for justice, it’s a fight for life, and I want to say Commissioner Jacob, what you’ve done today by cutting the road to prevent this motorcade from entering the Port of Spain, to prevent the motorcade from getting off Eastern Main Road…that Commissioner Jacob is an act of suppressing freedom of expression,” said Abdulah, who was speaking at the starting point outside the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Stating that it was an act of suppression of people’s rights to express their indignation and to express their right to life and livelihood, he added that the trade union movement totally condemns the decision.
“There is no good reason to stop this convoy from entering the Port of Spain, as requested by the Iron Merchants Association. And to stop it from going down the main road is a travesty of justice. If that’s the way you’re going, then you better put on the brakes because all you’re doing is following your Prime Minister Rowley’s bidding,” Abdullah said.
He said that instead of trying to stop a peaceful motorcade of honest citizens from coming to town to express their views, Jacob should deal with the spiraling rate of murders.
“With all the intelligence Mr. Hinds (Fitzgerald) says you have, why can’t you deal with it instead of trying to suppress people’s right to free speech. Do your job, Commissioner Jacob, to deal with real crime and allow citizens to enjoy their human and civil rights,” he added.
Abdullah said the decision to shut down the iron ore industry for six months was an evil decision.
TTSIDA president Allan Ferguson, who also addressed the motorcade, said he knows it is a victory they will win.
“This war is not only about scrap dealers, this war is about workers because there are many workers in the scrap industry as well. It’s about Trinidad and Tobago,” said Ferguson.
Noting that the government took away the livelihood of the industry workers without even putting in place any kind of relief program, he called on everyone in the industry who has children to bring their children with them as they take the protest to the homes of government ministers.
“You see the Government and the ministers and everyone, we will go to their house. Have the police guard your house from today we are coming. These children are going to be hungry and we need help, we need help for them. We can come before the school opens because we have no books to send our children to school. We have no food and uniform. The protest will start from Allyuh’s house and if Allyuh doesn’t like it then let the police shut us down because in war people shut down. People are killed in war, and this war is a war because you intend to kill us, and we will fight the hardest. “We will not take this fight for granted, we will fight,” added Ferguson.
He called on all scrapyards in the country to unite and fight this battle because it was an evil done to them.
“We have to fight this war and this war will end, but I know there will be some triggers. And I am saying that we will do our best, but this industry will never give up the fight. I say it again, I will never give up the fight. I will fight with you all and I will stand as a leader and I will stand strong as a leader. And if you think you’re going to break us, you’re lying. I will stand firm.”
During his speech, JTUM president Ancel Roget also took aim at Jacob, stating that the issue they are seeking to address is more important than any issue today and should therefore be given priority.
“Because if we’re talking about gun crime and trying to make sure that people who earn an honest day’s wage, an honest living, get the support that they’re going to continue down the path of honesty and law-abiding, why would you prevent from issuing in light of their case in the nation’s capital,” said Roget.
“We urge you to reconsider this disapproval and ensure that next time we go wherever we go in Trinidad and Tobago to highlight this issue.”
He also accused the government of planning to hand over the iron industry to the elites in society.
