00:00The oil field workers in particular condemn that behavior by the state police.
00:06I want to say clearly, and as a woman, I feel very offended what they continue to do in our
00:13demonstrations.
00:15Oil fields workers trade union vice president Sati Gajidar Innes speaking on behalf of JATAM at a joint media conference
00:22with Natuk.
00:22It was their response to the police having arrested and subsequently charged social activist Alyssa Phillip and her mother for
00:30what the TTP has said was an attempt by an unauthorized group to join the 2026 Labor Day procession in
00:37Faisabad.
00:38We don't send out public individual invitations. That has to be clear. So I might say, no, I don't know
00:47if she come in.
00:49But if come in, and he said, saw the young lady on the way and invited her to join him
00:55on the march, then what, and it was a peaceful march until they intervened, what gave them the right to
01:03say she should not be on, then any member of the public could have been arrested for being on the
01:08pathway or joining the march from time to time.
01:11The TTP has said on Saturday in reference to the arrests in Faisabad on Labor Day that police officers told
01:16the social activist and a small group of followers that they were not covered under the trade union's permit.
01:22Natuk General Secretary Michael Anaset gave the trade union movement's position about the planning for Labor Day 2026.
01:28We had meetings leading up, and that wasn't part of the discussions by the police, and then therefore at what
01:36point in time they determined that a young lady and her mother could not participate in a march that was
01:47open to all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, inclusive of the trade union movement.
01:52The TTP has said, quote, police officers verified with the trade union organizers that the group was not part of
02:00the authorized procession, end quote.
02:03If it is the police is saying so and come on, and he said it's quite right that they need
02:10to identify the individual who they were spoken to and clearly identify that to OWTU.
02:16The OWTU's first vice president had at first read from a written statement.
02:21The actions of the police on Labor Day in Faisabad placed a damper not only on the reminder of our
02:31rich, proud history,
02:34but it also definitely overshadowed Friday's announcement of the many achievements for workers made by this UNC and coalition interest
02:51government in just one year of working with trade unions.
02:56Mr. Anaset outlined how Natuk and J-term plan to proceed.
02:59The next step, I could assure you that we are in engaging a senior council to take overview of all
03:10what has happened to advisors as a labor movement, how to move forward in this matter, because this is not
03:18a simple matter, right?
03:21I believe it has some constitutional issues in what transpired.
03:26I'm not going to pronounce it.
03:28In their written statement, Natuk and J-term said they firmly believe that law enforcement authorities have a duty to
03:35maintain public order while simultaneously respecting the constitutional rights and dignity of all citizens.
03:43Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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