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00:22After mounting a demonstration outside Wassa last week and threatening industrial action, PSA President Felicia Thomas was all smiles this
00:32morning greeting Public Utilities Minister Barry Padaroth with hugs when he arrived at Wassa's headquarters.
00:38A triumphant Thomas announced to workers that the minister had delivered on the union's request, even as the minister himself
00:45called for understanding.
00:47Renessa Cutting reports.
00:51He has delivered.
00:53So to declare, the CEO is now speaking with the director of HL.
01:01All our proposals will be sent to the Ministry of Public Utility by the end of this week.
01:09Chairs of triumph from Wassa workers today as the PSA President gave an update on the negotiation process after meeting
01:18with the minister and the CEO.
01:20And of course, there's one internal issue that we are brave.
01:25That is the removal of the director of HL.
01:38So we thank the minister this morning for being here with the CEO to resolve the issues that we had
01:46that started under the hand of the director of HL.
01:49And we look forward to our settlement coming forward to it.
01:56Minister Padaroth had calls to visit Wassa early this morning, after the PSA President had warned that it would not
02:03be work as usual this week amidst old wage negotiations.
02:07But even as he reconfirmed the government's commitment to delivering on its promise, he also called for understanding.
02:15The commitment is there to yield the PSA membership to deliver upon what we agreed to prior to the election.
02:28And also, I know that you two are not unreasonable, that you understand the circumstances that we have found ourselves
02:38in because of what we inherited.
02:41Nevertheless, the minister says the process is well-intreed.
02:45This government has never been named on the arrangements that we promised that we partnered with.
02:55As far as I see it, it is news over the last couple of days that it's been an issue
03:00of communication.
03:01One, I'm a firm believer that when communication collapse, this is a recipe for disaster.
03:09And ARC's CEO is going to take the responsibility to be the intermediary in the union and HR and to
03:20get things working faster for the ball to start rolling so that we can achieve a position of where you
03:31want to be in the shorter phase of time.
03:54However, the minister is seeking to put distance between himself and whatever decision may be taken with respect to WASA's
04:02director of human rights.
04:04and resources.
04:05Regarding your HR management here, as given the commitment, that will be reviewed, we will have a discussion with the
04:14chairmen and the board.
04:15We need to PSA, chairman and the board, the management here to see what the challenges are.
04:22And therefore, a determination in terms of the way forward with respect to any HR management changes should have to
04:33come from those discussions.
04:36I cannot insult myself, as you can appreciate it.
04:40Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
04:43Well, the PSA president also had some words for former Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzalez, warning him to quote-unquote,
04:52stay out of WASA business.
04:54Marvin Gonzalez has no moral authority to speak on anything WASA.
05:00And the message to him is to stay out of WASA business.
05:02This is the same organization he attempted to destroy while he was in office, and he didn't get the opportunity
05:09to do it, stay out of WASA's business.
05:13In an immediate response via social media, the former minister hit back, accusing the PSA president and the current minister
05:21of Public Utilities of trickery and hypocrisy.
05:26I served in government, and I am prepared to account for my decisions and my record.
05:33Those who now occupy public office must be equally prepared to defend and to account for theirs.
05:42You cannot demand accountability from others while refusing to subject yourself to the same standard.
05:48And you cannot silence legitimate criticisms simply because the questions being asked make you uncomfortable.
05:57I will continue to speak.
06:00I will continue to ask the difficult questions.
06:02And I will continue to hold this lying government accountable.
06:07Not because it is comfortable or convenient, but because that is precisely what I was elected to do.
06:14So why is Yohan Bari engaged in public trickery?
06:18I will expose your hypocrisy.
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