General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Thomas Letang, has responded to statements made by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit as it relates to systems his government plans to put in place for public officers to express their concerns.
The prime minister said recently, at his swearing-in ceremony, that there are too many complaints by public officers going around, some of which are legitimate and this system needs to be put in place so persons who were aggrieved by the actions of the administration of the public service have an opportunity for their cases to be heard.
He also expressed concerns about public officer acting in a position for several years, and others who have not been appointed for 15 years and said this has to be addressed.
However, Letang, who spoke to Dominica News Online (DNO) on Thursday said he does not support this proposal which makes no sense to him and labelled it an attempt by the government to control the public service.
“Cabinet at no time should have anything to do with the people’s employment unless it is a contract worker and Cabinet is giving you a contract for a period of time and even that has to go to the Public Service Commission for its endorsement,” he said. “It is an attempt to control the Public Service and we will not fall for that and any attempt to do so will be met by serious objection and protest by the union.”
Letang contends that this move by Skerrit is morally wrong, unacceptable in any democratic society and is meant to weaken the public service.
Before the general elections, numerous protests and meetings were conducted by the PSU for salary negotiations with the government – but according to Letang, all of that seemed to have fallen on deaf ears as their complaints were never answered.
Elections have now passed and the same government (Dominica Labour Party- DLP) is now back in office.
Letang is calling on public officers to “open their eyes” and recognize that they are “treading on a slippery road” and nobody in their right senses should support what the prime minister has suggested.
“The union has to be much more militant than it has been and we have to go all out to talk to the members, to educate our members, in other words our education drive must be enhanced because this is dangerous where the public officers have been calling and the people have been expressing their concerns,” he stated.
Skerrit has also said that he believes it is the cabinet’s job to take a keener interest in the welfare of public officers and to provide them with an avenue where they can express their concerns if they feel that they are being unfairly treated.
Letang noted that this statement is illogical as Dominica is under a Westminster Government and that the prime minister has to understand that this is not the role and responsibility of the cabinet.
He stated that the country has three branches of government which consists of the legislature, the administrative branch and the judiciary.
“The legislature, which is where the politicians come in, they are not responsible for the day to day administration of the public service. Senior public officers are charged with that responsibility and to come up with any system where complaints by public officers can be made to Cabinet is a dictatorial approach,” Letang stated.
He said the prime minister’s statement is a clear departure from what Dominica has been accustomed to and what actually exists, adding that this gives way to more victimization and favouritism among citizens.
He said the union has also investigated the matter involving public workers who have not been appointed and found that some of the recommendations from the union are awaiting clearance from the prime minister.
He pointed out that since workers have raised the issue of salary increase “over and over and over again”, Skerrit needs to provide the clearance; if that is where the matter is, so persons can be permanently appointed after being employed for over 10 years.
Letang suggested that there is a need for greater mobilization of union members, greater enhancement of their educational programs and communication with their members in a more effective way because he recognizes that there is a battle ahead of them.
Skerrit won’t rest until he controls everything in Dominica. Fact! Once he achieved that you all will get to know a different Skerrit. Look no further than Zimbabwe! All you mark my words, the writing has been on the wall for a long time!
Eh ben weh papa stop that nonesense nuh big men like allyou. Try to move on nuh.
Letang showed weakness when he continued to “negotiate” after cabinet was dissolved. The question everyone was asking; Who is he negotiating with if cabinet is dissolved? It showed his lack of understanding as to what civil servants wants. He should have called to shut down the country and civil servants join the movement for change. Now he there blah-jaying.
Now you see how the shrewed Skerrit played you and he is taking over DPSU you still there talking. Bro, you still have not gotten it. SHUT it down or just take it like a man and shut the hell up! Right now Skerrit have you bent all the way ….take it like a man bro.
Thomas, a week after Skerrit said election would be announced in a 100 days, you told the media that you had something huge coming but waiting for the right time. My guess is that the RSS forces took you guys by surprise. You are loser just like Lennox. The union should kick you out and find new pastures. Let me be straight forward. Union sucks. They try to entice workers to believe that they are working on their behalf, while they rack up the largest share of the pie. Dont mess with psychology majors. They always think ahead of idots.
Confused,you are not a person of the 70’s.The difference between Charles Savarin and Thomas BALLS Letang is that ,The DPSU would tell Savarin what they want him to do.The BALLS is telling DPSU what HE want them to do.That is why DPSU do not care about BALLS.Stupid man.
Guy, get lost with the crap you are talking!
You are not representing any public servant, or any other; I do not know how, and why the people you claim to represent tolerate you for so long; after it appears that you are in Roosevelt hip pocket.
It seems as everyone else, Roosevelt have you twisted around his small finger!
You people complain about Roosevelt everyday, nonetheless when you all had the opportunity nine days ago to rid yourselves of Roosevelt Skerrit, you jolly well ran out and voted for him returning him to power to dominate you, with a bridle and saddle; riding you all as donkeys!
You single handily can sweep Roosevelt out of office by calling the people you represent out on a general strike; rather than crawling on your belly as a half dead rat talking the same crap everyday, year in year out.
Are you a man with authority; or are you a mouse pretending to represent public servants?
Which are you?
You still suffering for Political madness the pre election violence and though you all was goin to over throw the labour party..In your face
it is 18/3… the masses has spoken ..put that in Your pipe and smoke it….
Tou so angry you turni g on your very own The Public service union boss…
Letang, in my honest opinion you are just a ficking damn as..
Your duty as the union boss is to foster efficiency in the sectors as so described in the unions scope.
Act as a mediator, a bridge that would create an even playing field. The person to ensure that good working conditions are enforced and good wages. Set all the conditions that make it conducive for employees to operate smoothly.
You are the one who holds the power in your hand to direct the people to come out in large numbers fight for a cause, instead all you do is seat and enjoy contracts form the same Government that you appear to challenge everytime your menstrual cycle is on.
It is time for you to show your face and do some ground work instead of just bla bla. You need to challenge a cause or just shut up.
All u still bitter…oh man…get some real work to do….u want us to put a man in power who has not held a real job since dcp made him redundant…..this is crazy and mad ppl thinking….
Letang, the public servants should get the TTO from young bull, frankly speaking they want you put that’s they did not listen to you. The should vote you out.
Letang, do your work do that Skerrit won’t try to control the workers. You to lazy.
There is always a beginning an ending. They sit there and admire Skerrit. THEY should be present at job interviews to ensure the qualified person get the job with no favouritism. Keep meetings with your members, get their views, if you don’t do your job, Skerrit will take them from you. He did me a favour once so I will vote for him. All the loop holes are in the constituence,find them. You leave them problems for Skerrit to act as husband and dad to them so they vote for him. Talk to the people, get involved. You are the cause for dlp winning all them elections, when the people need you they cannot find you.
Letang, I fully agree with Prime minister Skerrit to many like you taking the piss for doing nothing get a proper job and stop pretending you working for the working man in a matter of fact you only for Linton and his so-called Workers clowns party no wonder you two looking alike identical twins 💩💩
@man bites dog, u must have some serious issues. All your comments are insulting and attacking people’s look. You must take that up with God cause everyone is created in his image.
@Da, it is not my fault if nature decide to play joke on Linton and Letang nothing to do with me pal!!
Letang you are a joke. Skerrit do dang right. You are not in control so what do you expect. The union is week because the leadership is weak. You not getting anywhere if you not willing shut country down to ensure public get what is due. You should step down let people who have no fear and someone who has balls and charisma. You should be in a senior men choir.
Trying to? when you have endless NEP operatives who feel because “Skerrit give them a job” in the Ministries itself! and act like they owe him their lives. then you best believe he controls a significant amount of public sector workers. Many others are governed by fear of victimization. Many of the heads of ministries, permanent secretaries and directors you see them at the dlp rallies or wearing the red in solidarity. This whole public sector is sick and riddled with ENTITLED DLP operatives. from top to bottom. Politics should have no place in the public service. That is why certain people have only recieved “help” because they sing the song. They have a new little gay feller determining who gets help and who doesnt on wednesday morning. he does act like he that hold the purse and after skerrit is him. Many others like that abusing their positions.
Too much talk and little action. If that is how we will continue then allow the DLP to do as they like. There are more people in the country that want change. There are people who want DLP, those who want UWP and those who want UWP but don’t want Lennox. That is obvious so my Dominica say what you want next.
Letang is a joke, he is too bias to lead the Union, they should vote him out.
These Days, when I hear DPSU I cannot stop laughing, but then I sober up to the reality that the DPSU is always sleep-walking. It appears as a Union lost in its own world with not a clue how to negotiate.
DPSU Just seem unable and CANNOT PROTECT ITS OWN!
DPSU is tantamount to one who goes to negotiations. On approaching the table DPSU gets a kick in the FUNDAMENT from government. A perplexed DPSU then responds, “Did you kick me? Sir you did not kick me hard enough. Do it again” . So they get kicked again and leave.
Later DPSU comes back to petition for assistance and again, they are kicked in the FUNDAMENT. Wanting to show obeyance DPSU grovels by asking to be kicked again and again, even suggesting that they were not kicked hard enough and insisting that DPSU should be kicked harder. Once the kick is administered DPSU offers profused thanks for being kicked and more groveling in anticipation of assistance and get NOTHING.
Just like Children of Sisyphus. PATHETIC RIGHT?
Oops!! Letang did it again
He played with their heart
and got lost in the game
Oops, you think he sized-up
THE ONE SENT FROM ABOVE
Come on Letang, you’re not that innocent, or are you?
Letang this Poem was written in the Great Depression under Teddy Roosevelt. STILL RELEVANT FOR DPSU
Mr. Roosevelt is my shepherd,
And I am in want.
He maketh me to lie down on park benches,
He leadeth me beside still factories,
He disturbeth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of unemployment and destitution for his party’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the Depression,
I anticipate no recovery, for he is with me;
His policies, his diplomacies, and rod of taxes continually beat me.
He prepareth a reduction in my income,
And in the presence of mine enemies,
He anointeth my small income with taxes;
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, unemployment, want, and poverty shall follow me all the days of Roosevelt,
And I shall dwell in a mortgaged home…
Mr. Letang,
The best thing you must do for the union members you represent is to step dowm and leader. You have been ineffective throughout, and have demonstrated absolutely no leadership qualities. All most all the members you represent don’t adhere to you and this is troubling and concern to you. This has nothing to do with the Prime Minister. You, like Linton have been ineffective and a liability to the members you represent. Do the members you represent and step aside and let new leaders prevail.
You are public nuisance and an embarrassment to the people who elected you as their leader. The public service should demand their dues from you. Instead of working with the hard working men and women, Mr. Letang you have become the most vociferous UWP members. Letang you were elected to look for the betterment of these hardworking people, now excuses isn’t enough for your nonessential behavior. DUMP LETANG, DUMP LETANG.
Letang, you tried to manipulate the Public Service with your political intentions and you failed. They should kick you out as their leader. You are a pathetic arm of the UWP. The might of the Messiah crushed all the hypocrites. Make all the noise you want, the Almighty has spoken and you must listen, he is the King of Kings! The Messiah gave my daughter a message couple of weeks before the election that the DLP would win. While saying my daily prayers, I got a message that it would be 17-4 DLP, however, Chekira could make it 18-3 with hard work and great turn out at the polls. You see my people, the Almighty reigns supreme.
Tricks that Skerrit have in his MA. A snake in the grass.
The PM is right to bypass Thomas BALLS Letang,when negotiating with PUBLIC SERVANTS.
Stop playing Politics ..Get out of the dam union and stop your foolishness…
You are destroying the union…
I agree with the Prime Minister.Thomas BALLS Letang,does nothing in the interest of PUBLIC SERVANTS.The guy is a UWP politician,working in the interest of UWP.
Ha Ha Letang, You cannot get that Speaker Chair that Lennox promised you if he had won eh!!! It is high time public servants kick you out and elect somebody more authentic to represent them. You and Lennox cut from the same cloth, miserable failures.
Letang need to grow a pair of balls and a backbone,he has power to make tge country stand still,stop being a dam punk,
Yes just like the people made the Patriots believe they had their support and we’re ready to Campion the cause for free and democratic Dominica sorry not to be disappointed. The public officers are if the same bunch , a set of cowards ; love salary increases , better working conditions and cry abiut vintimizatiin and unfair treatment in the work place however when the same Letang call on them for action and support they stick their behind in the workplace it at home. Letang is as strong as his numbers . The majority of public officers are either afraid of their shadow it a total sell out. :