Former Public Services Association (PSA) general secretary and defeated 2025 presidential candidate Nixon Callender has issued a warning to members, condemning what he describes as an alarming shift towards political alignment within the union.
In a strongly worded statement yesterday, Callender accused newly elected PSA president Felisha Thomas and her executive of betraying the union’s core mission by openly supporting a political party.
Callender said recent statements from Thomas confirmed that the PSA was no longer functioning as an independent trade union but had become a political arm of the United National Congress (UNC).
He criticised Thomas’ declaration, after she had been confirmed as the winner of the election on Wednesday, that her “first order of business” was to remove the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) from office, arguing that such a stance redefines the PSA as a political weapon rather than a representative body for public servants.
He described this as a dangerous development, warning it compromised the union’s ability to fairly represent workers, particularly when a different party is in power.
Callender emphasised that the PSA was founded on principles of neutrality and workers’ advocacy, negotiating with the government of the day rather than attempting to overthrow it.
In December last year, outgoing PSA leader Leroy Baptiste was reportedly scheduled to meet with UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as she sought to assemble members of the “Coalition of Interests.”
Yesterday, Callender also pointed to past instances of political “entanglement” within the PSA, referencing former president Watson Duke, who left the union to pursue a political career with the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP).
Callender warned that the PSA’s credibility is now at risk, potentially damaging its role as a bargaining agent for workers. He urged PSA members to reject what he termed a “dangerous path” and demand the union remain politically neutral. He also called on members to hold the executive accountable and ensure the union remains focused on workers’ rights rather than political campaigns.
“The PSA exists to fight for workers’ rights, not to fight elections,” he declared.
“If we allow the PSA to become a political tool, we will lose everything we have fought for.”
Callender’s warning came amid ongoing concerns about stalled labour negotiations, which he attributed to the PSA’s politicisation of issues over the past decade. He insisted public officers must reclaim control of the union and restore its credibility as an independent voice.
—Otto Carrington