ROWLEY FEARS SPAT WITH DUKE!

PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Rowley declined to issue a vaccine mandate to public officers because he did not want a spat with Public Services Association (PSA). 

Such a public dispute would have boosted the public profile of PSA President Watson Duke ahead of the forthcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election. 

Duke is the leader of Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP), which is currently in a THA electoral deadlock with Rowley’s People’s National Movement.  

Rowley has issued a Covid-19 mandate that only vaccinated employees and customers could participate in private sector activities. 

But he did not hand down an instruction with respect to the public service, of which the Government is the employer. 

The private sector is largely unrepresented by trade unions. 

PSA represents public officers. 

Industrial Court President Deborah Thomas-Felix recently stressed that mandatory vaccinations cannot be implemented unilaterally by employers. 

Ms. Thomas-Felix stated: “The introduction of a Covid-19 vaccination or any new policy can amount to a material change in the terms and conditions of employment…” 

Trade unions have come out against measures introduced by employers to permit only vaccinated employees or clients. 

Banking, Insurance, and General Workers’ Union has taken Republic Bank to court over such a mandate. 

CULTURE