PSA president Watson Duke has tendered his resignation from the Public Service Association (PSA) effective December 31, 2021.
Duke's offer his resignation via a letter to the PSA executive on Monday.
"I Watson Solomon Duke, President of the Public Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago, hereby offer my resignation for acceptance by the Conference of Delegates to be effective from December 31st 2021."
He then went on to list his achievements with the PSA.
"My Presidency began in 2009 when Public Officers had no access to HOC homes, a poor health plan, no job security, small salaries and were being exploited by politicians. However, over the ensuing years, I was able to stop the destruction of the Civil Service by halting the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority, Passport Authority, Forestry Authority and Licensing Authority," he said.
He continued: "I also placed in excess of $5 billion in workers pockets based on salary increases, allowances etc. I have commenced the job evaluation for over 1500 different categories of jobs which is now approximately 25% complete. In addition, I have created an opportunity for public officers to enter the discussions in the Board Room, at the level of governance, by entering and becoming successful in the Trinidad and Tobago political arena."
He added: "Specifically speaking, I am now the Deputy Chief Secretary of the THA, which is a body charged with creating policy and managing the affairs of Tobago. As the PSA faces its future, it would require a political solution to its political problems.
• Nine (9) years without a salary increase, is a political problem.
• Failure to fill vacancies is a political problem created by the Minister of Finance.
• Failure to adjust allowances is a political problem."
he said that as such, upon acceptance, with effect from December 31st, 2021, "I will be completely committing myself to creating a political solution to fixing these problems for citizens of our country. Therefore I hope my resignation is accepted, so I can commit myself to the same work, albeit, on a different level."
The PSA has scheduled a Special Conference for Tuesday 21st December 2021 at 10 am to consider Duke's resignation offer and the filling of the vacant position of President pursuant to Article 37 (f) of the Constitution of the PSA with effect from January 1st, 2022.