General Secretary of the Public Service Union (PSU), Thomas Letang believes that the way forward for the Public Works Corporation (PWC) is the need for professionalism in the relationship between the Ministry of Public Works and the PWC, in addition to the government’s assistance towards securing subcontracts from its contractors.
Letang was speaking at a press conference yesterday where he revealed challenges identified and plans formulated by employees of the PWC after a ‘think tank’ session, which came on the heels of serious fiscal constraints at the PWC, leaving several workers unpaid for extended periods.
“We have recommended to the government that they should, with immediate effect, treat the Corporation like all other salutary corporations and if they respect that autonomy, it will allow the Corporation to chart a course to renewed financial health,” Letang argued. “The Government should [also] make good its promises to the corporation of getting contracts for works and allow the Corporation to benefit from as many contracts as possible, by way of subcontracts. There is nothing wrong with the Government sitting with foreign companies and to try to get some contracts for the corporation.”
He called on government to protect the jobs of the local people, despite the operations of certain foreign entities locally. He believes that even in the midst of competition, there are projects that should go to PWC by default, once they have the capacity to carry it out.
“At the end of the day as the government you have to be able to protect the jobs of your citizens and to ensure that certain things are done. If everyone who comes to Dominica is allowed to open a little business, all that does is throw our people out of business. Some of those entities are subsidized by their own governments. There is no way that Gaddarkhan should be allowed to provide asphalt. That should have been done by PWC, Government could have controlled that. There are jobs that can be given to PWC [once they have the capacity to do it],” Letang stated.
“Any locally funded works should go to PWC,” he added.
mr LETANG I THINK YOU CAN DO A LITTLE RESEARCH AND BRING OUT THE HARD EVIDENCE AND TAKE THIS TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF CONVERSATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN FIND THE EVIDENCE ON THE NUMBER OF MACHINES OWNED BY MINISTERS THROUGH THERE FRIENDS THAT IS DOING THE SAME WORK THAT PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD BE DOING, THE JOB THAT THE FOREIGNERS ARE DOING THAT OUR PUBIC WORKS SHOULD BE DOING, THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE GIVEN TO PRIVATE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD BE DOING,,, AND LET US ALL DO A CHARLES SAVARIN(1979)…. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT, DO YOUR RESEARCH AND CALL NAMES, PLACES, DEMAND TO SEE CONTRACTS AND LETS MAKE IT UNCONFORTABLE FOR THOSE MEGA CORRUPT SKUNDRELLS THAT CAUSE MY SKIN TO ITCH ME EVERYTIME I SEE THE NONSENSE THAT IS GOING ON IN DOMINICA, AND SORRY TO SAY BUT IN THIS WORLD AND TIMES THERE SHOULD BE NO PLACE FOR ILLITERATE PEOPLE.
Dear editor. It is hard to believe that Mr. Letang would have cited “fiscal” (relating to tax), rather than “financial”constraints as a reason for PWC not paying their employees on time.Pls. verify and correct if necessary. Thanks & regards.