Totally agree with you, we the citizens only look at a problem one-sided, most times we only thinks of ourselves. We go to a bank to transact business once we get what we went for we are satisfied, we never ever think of the person/s attending to us, their working conditions. We say most times what is the matter with that person, they hoggish or ill-mannered, we don't think they are also human and maybe is having a difficult time maybe with health, at home or under stress because of working conditions. The government only responded to the immigration situation because of their family and friends complaining, yes we the citizens are suffering but let us call a spade a spade here, citizens and companies could not pay their taxes for months because the cashiers were not collecting cash only cheques. The collection boxes for cheques were always full and overflowing the security would inform us that we cannot put your cheques in because the box is full. The Inland Revenue office in San Fernando was closed for almost three months the government did not take action, the Social Services office was also closed intermittently, some days working shortened hours the government did nothing. You are right the government must also take blame because these situations with government offices have been going on for months on end and not a word from the government.

When a man is employed as an operator, electrician, labourer, a draughtsman etc how is he wealthy. NAR, UNC was also the government for a few years didn't they employ persons also. Did you not see the former Permanent Secretaries who came out in disgust of the same statement you have made about hired by PNM political patronage. Why not go talk to the government and tell them to let the workers occupy the buildings that were constructed for the them. Have you ever gone and inspected the inside of that building. I don't think so, because if you did you would not even put your dog, if you have one, in there.

@stephenramsingh You are so, so right. Although a lot of the posters will not agree with you but these buildings are appalling. The owners don't ever refurbish them, all they do is collect rent.

@DaneyDane Thank you. We only complain when it affects us but have no sympathy for the person/s behind the desks/counters and the conditions we work in because they just come in get attended to and leave. We sit in the squalor whole day not them. I am sure their dogs are in better kennels that the inside of these buildings/offices.

Thank you, thank you and believe me the building is in a terrible state. The public only sees it from the outside and probably where they sit awaiting an officer to attend to them. This government is only speaking now because it is affecting their own because other offices have been closed for almost three months and they said nada. This is the same people who were parading on platforms accusing the Manning administration of building big buildings, which they are now using some for their benefits including the one in San Fernando. I keep saying McLeod has memory lapses of when he was the head of OWTU. How convenient, he now thinks he has arrived.

The US has a Vice President who is voted for and he represents the President when he cannot attend to certain official matters at home and overseas.

@Blogiteer if you have written this then you know nothing of McLeod when he was head of OWTU. Ask Petrotrin and Yara (formerly FedChem) workers' wives how he make their husbands take strike action for months on end, they got no salary because they weren't working. Ask those men how much money they received from the union's strike fund.
What is ironic with this government they are only speaking now because it is hurting their friend and families, the Board of Inland Revenue in San Fernando was closed for almost three months where were they, the Social Services office same thing then opened with shortened hours where were they, BIR/VAT offices companies cannot pay their taxes for months where were they. Have anyone really and truly gone into that passport office on Frederick Street, well my dog lives in a better kennel than that place.. I know the public is inconvenience but buildings were constructed for these workers why not put them in it. They are only making excuses for not letting the workers occupy them. Let me tell this government when you dig holes for people be very very careful that you don't fall into it. They are not spitting the PNM it's the workers when they are not doing right by them, then and only then the public will suffer. Remember public servants run the country.

Have you forgotten that Kamla was hugging up Kublalsingh protesting with him against the same Hway, when PNM was the government. The people of La Brea didn't cause the oil spill it came from Petrotrin, are you working in the public service, have you inspected the conditions of the buildings, buildings were constructed for these workers, but Duke was only studying to accept 5% and not to fight tooth and nail for workers to occupy the constructed building, which are standing empty. Duke is for this government he has abused the other trade unions for them and for a Minister of Labour who is always bad talking the same workers which he fought for years ago. Duke is about himself, he and this government don't care of the citizens of T&T. The Ministry of Social Services was closed for nearly three months what did the government say nada, it's only when they realized that their friends and family weren't be able to travel for this vacation with their children they decided to voice their disapproval.

Why didn't Duke fight from the beginning for the workers to occupy those buildings constructed for them, no he was only studying money and he was fooled into taking 5%. When he realize that every union after him got more than 5% he was annoyed but he brought it on himself. He went into the PSA saw money what did he do first buy himself a BMW, greed, just like this government. Treasury empty but they are all filling their pockets. Duke nor this government don't care about the citizens of T&T, the PM flew out to Brazil, diplomatic passport, do the ordinary citizen have a diplomatic passport, hell no. What was their mantra SERVE THE PEOPLE, SERVE THE PEOPLE, who have they served no one but themselves..

This has been a problem for years of relatives abandoning their aged relatives and the problem is they will bring them to the hospital they will be admitted, they will visit but when that relative is discharged no one will come to get them. The nurses will call and call and still they will not come. When they are put out there is an outcry from the public, but this what the hospitals deal with year after year. Remember years ago the doctor who was living in Wd 16, at that time it was a private ward.