As the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) continues its call for an increased minimum wage and lower priced fuel, president of the OWTU Ancel Roget delivered a letter to the the Finance Minister, Colm Imbert addressing these matters on Monday.

Roget, Michael Annisette, general secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour and the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) and chief education officer of the OWTU Ozzie Warwick delivered it to him at the Eric Williams Financial Complex, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

When asked if there is any possibility of the OWTU and the opposition joining forces over his choice of sending the letter to Persad-Bissessar, Roget said, 'There are all kinds of possibilities, but at this point in time, we are very focused on the issues that affect the people of this country. The suffering of the people must be addressed.'

Annisette said they will only support ideas. He said people must be mindful of who they are voting for and ask themselves what the party they are voting for has done for them.

Speaking to the media after delivering the letter, he said, this letter is to help voice the concerns of the general public as it contains pleas to increase the minimum wage to $30 from $17.50, decrease the fuel prices, removing the National Insurance Board (NIB) penalty for those retiring at age 60 and delay the implementation of property tax all of which he described as 'bread and butter issues.'

'We are saying that the minister's justification every time they raise the price of fuel - and you would recall they have raised the price of fuel six times since coming into office - they quote market forces.'

Market forces refer to the price of oil per barrel directly affecting fuel costs worldwide. Last June, crude oil stood at US$74.35 and this year, for the same comparative period, it was US$69.37. Roget claimed that as oil prices drop and gasoline prices remain the same, people would be paying a 'fuel tax.'

Quoting the letter, he added that TT is paying more for premium and super gasoline with TT's prices being $7.75 and $6.97 respectively whereas for premium, the cost is either $7.26 or $6.71 depending on the state in the US while super costs between $6.10-$6.72.

As for the penalty on those wanting to retire before age 60, he said it was immoral and the government must back off. But according to a press release by the Finance Ministry last April in response to an article based on statements by the Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo, the retirement age depends solely based on contribution rates to NIB as there is no connection between the two.

Roget added, 'We want to make it abundantly clear that we are not against citizens paying land and building taxes, however, it is clear that the implementation of this onerous property tax at this time will place an extremely severe burden on the already burdened citizens.'

Roget said this will greatly affect employed and unemployed people, especi

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