Jesse Ramdeo
Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association (TTNNA), Idi Stuart, says discussions may commence as early as next week over the settlement agreement for Regional Health Authority (RHA) workers.
During an interview with Guardian Media on Friday, Stuart said while he understands the hurt and disappointment experienced by health workers, particularly after expectations had been raised that backpay would be received before Christmas, the settlement process must follow established procedures.
He added that talks among executives are already scheduled to begin, signalling renewed movement on the long-standing matter.
“And I believe the Government would do so in the shortest possible time. And as we have already seen, the Minister of Health has already given directions to the CEOs to begin negotiating,” Stuart said.
According to Stuart, the nursing association is preparing to engage formally with management early in the new year.
“From us, as early as the first week in January, we will be meeting with the ERHA,” he said.
Earlier this month, RHA workers who fall under the Public Services Association threatened a go-slow over the Christmas holiday period at various health facilities around the country after they were told they would not be receiving backpay after the 10 per cent agreement between the union and the Chief Personnel Officer.
However, yesterday, Stuart said as far as he was aware there were no mass absenteeism in the health sector over the holiday season. He admitted it was “unpredictable at this time, however, due to the level of discontent pervading in the health sector.”
He said, though, “nursing and midwifery personnel, as per usual, remain dedicated to their duty as their services are critical.”
Just last week, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar assured RHA workers that outstanding payments would be addressed in the new year, while stressing that any settlement must be carried out in accordance with the law.
Her commitment came after Government fulfilled its promise of backpay to public servants before Christmas.
Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the disappointment among RHA employees but said the situation could not be resolved overnight.
The TTNNA president said that calls for patience are difficult for health workers to accept, especially after years of waiting for the settlement and amid rising living costs.
“So yes, it’s a difficult pill to swallow. Health workers really are not too mindful of hearing that statement, neither from the Prime Minister, nor from the leader of the public service, and probably neither from me,” Stuart said.
Meanwhile, Public Services Association (PSA) president Felisha Thomas has also sought to reassure affected workers, insisting that the agreed settlement remains intact and will be delivered.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Thomas said the union had attempted to secure an advance payment for its members before December 23, 2025.
“In the absence of those instructions and in the absence of settled negotiations, the PSA did advance for members throughout all statutory authorities, including all RHAs, to receive an advance on a raise owed,” Thomas said.
She acknowledged that the effort did not materialise but urged members to remain united.
