00:00From the day the PSA signed on to a 10% wage increase with the government and was promised some payment before Christmas,
00:08multiple unions have lobbied for similar provisions.
00:12Among the growing discontent, rumors of RHA workers going on strike demanding outstanding arrears have been circulating,
00:20a concern Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissassar addressed on Friday night following a toy distribution event in her constituency.
00:28We live in a democratic country. They have a right to express their whatever they want to express in a free country in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:37We cannot stop them. What I will say that they did not fall within the bargaining unit of the PSA.
00:43The law is different. And their issue is they come two days, two weeks before Christmas and say, hey, we want to be paid before Christmas.
00:51I wish I had all the money in the world, in the bank. I would pay every single one, including you.
00:56I would pay everybody, but we don't.
00:59The Prime Minister says it is important to understand that the money being requested has been outstanding for many years,
01:06long before she took office eight months ago.
01:10These monies are not for yesterday and today, you know. These monies are backpays for years, arrears.
01:16And for 10 years they never once creaked, never once went out there to hold people's lives to ransom.
01:22I think they have better sense than that. And good sense will prevail.
01:26She says her government will sit down with all those still owed in 2026 and gave the assurance that they will work towards settling all outstanding wages.
01:36And in the new year, the minister said he will engage them in the process of the law, as we will engage all those with outstanding fees.
01:45But what I find most interesting is, 10 years, he said nothing, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
01:54The day we are in office, some of you want to get everything tomorrow morning.
01:59I think that reflects a great confidence in my government, because they do believe, they believe they can get everything tomorrow morning.
02:07I'll tell you, you can't get it tomorrow, but maybe next week or the next one, we will work on it.
02:12Cindy Raghuwantika Singh, TV6 News.
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