?Q: How does it feel to be elected President of the Public Services Association?
A: I feel honoured, because so many workers reposed their trust and confidence in my message. They have given me control in the shaping of their work life for the next four years. For that, we are honoured and humbled. Some workers we never met have trusted us.
To what do you attribute your success?
To God and people! People came around and just supported me. I must give respect to those persons.
What makes you a suitable PSA leader?
I have been prepared for this work. I was always outspoken. At church as a young leader in Tobago, I spoke to crowds: young people and even senior people. I had a one-on-one with many persons. It appeared that God prepared me for leadership. In 1999, I became a serious practitioner of trade unionism; I was very much involved. Then while in Tobago in 2007, I got a call to return to WASA to run for chairman of that section in the union election. After giving it thought, I decided to give it a shot. I got a landslide victory. Later, we settled a big agreement. It was clear that God was moving with me. When the executive started to attack me, it appeared God was preparing me for president.
I went to court three times and won. There were attempts to dismiss me, but the tribunals were never set up. I realised it was a divine hand. It was further conviction that God had prepared me for president. Based on my leadership style, I was able to make people believe that we could do it. Our campaign started without money. Ken, you cannot confuse the anointed with experience. David was not a warrior; he was a shepherd boy. Goliath was a warrior, trained to kill. David had anointing. He had an assurance of how it would turn out.
You had a long-running battle with the Jennifer Baptiste-Primus executive; do you see your victory as a vindication of your position?
Yes, a final vindication. Over two years, they did me every single thing you could do someone in the trade union movement. They maligned my name and attempted to destroy my career at WASA. But I kept the faith, not for me, but because of what public officers were suffering from–a lack of representation.
What are your priorities?
They are many and varied. Our prime priority is to listen to the workers. We believe that by listening to the workers we would understand their grievances and be able to advise them. That way, we can become successful in everything. But first, we must listen to them. We want to tell them what we discovered and allow them to make decisions.
What do you see as the legacy of the Baptiste-Primus years?
She was a fighter, but a fighter who beats a champion fighter is a greater fighter. When she believes in something, she fights for it. I only wish she was more guided by what the workers wanted her to fight for.
Would she be permitted to serve as boss of the PSA company, as she had indicated before the election?
We will talk to her. My lawyers are looking at it, based on the rules. As president of the PSA, she was CEO of the union. She was elected based on that role, but I don't think Jennifer was elected to head that company. She has admitted that she had no business experience. We would look at it and would want to handle it amicably. We do not want any animosity; we want peace and healing.
Do you have plans to expand the membership of PSA?
I'm glad you asked. More than 5,000 workers want to join the union. I got several calls this morning from workers, indicating that they wanted to join the PSA. We are looking at an additional 20,000 members in the next year or two.
How many members does the union have at present?
About 13,000. I am not sure. We would have to confirm the figure.
Would the PSA now play a vigorous role in the labour movement?
Certainly! We would try to transform the union from a clubhouse to a real union, something that could move into protecting the basic rights of workers.
Do you have a game plan?
Yes; we do. It would be revealed at a massive rally sometime early in January, when all public officers would be invited to join, and we would interact with them. It would be the first meeting of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago.�There, we would unveil our plans for a year and listen to our members.
What do you say about the rest of your executive?
My people are the ones who selected me. They are full of confidence, skill and tenacity. Now, we have to transform that into action.
Some people are suggesting that your election is a vote against the PNM. What do you say to that?
The PSA has always been a political tool. It is the most influential trade union, because of the workers it represents. We represent workers in key government ministries and departments. I have no issues with the Prime Minister. I think he would have done his good for the country.�He has policies that I object to, while there are others I laud. I hope we would talk from time to time. I hope we would get results.�I am on no war path with the Prime Minister, but on a path of ensuring that members' business comes first. There would be no politics in the running of the union.
When do you occupy the president's chair? Do you have to be sworn in?
I am the president. There is no swearing-in. Under the union's rules, I have to take an oath.
Have you spoken to (defeated presidential candidate) Stephen Thomas?
I have spoken to him. He can't be too happy at the election results, since he was a senior officer of the union for 12 years. We have to decide how to involve him and utilise his services. We are not opposed to him as a person. We also have to transfer notes from the old to the new regime.