By Anna Rose Madray Monday, December 1 2008

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Labour Minister Rennie Dumas...

Labour Minister Rennie Dumas has promised to work closely with trade unions in several different areas once these groups host a successful People’s Summit of the Americas next year.

Trade union heads met with Dumas and other ministry representatives, last Friday, at the ministry’s head office, Riverside Plaza, Port-of-Spain, to discuss preparation for the upcoming People’s Summit, to be held in Trinidad alongside the Fifth Summit of the Americas (SOA-V), next April.

National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) president Robert Guiseppi told Newsday the meeting was held so the minister could give unions information about organising the People’s Summit. The meeting, he said, was attended by three representatives from International and Hemispheric Trade Union Movement, Public Service International and NATUC, among other groups.

The People’s Summit, he explained, will consist of groups from civil society, non-government organisations, trade unions, and associations representing special interest groups from countries represented in the SOA-V.

“There will be a large forum at which these groups will inform all and sundry of their views and interests on the protection of human rights and development. We expect that the voices of the people be heard and the leaders from the Americas appreciate the views of the people. Much concern is being expressed at what is taking place socially, economically and politically around the world,” he said.

Guiseppi added that local trade unions and civil society groups are expected to unite to host the conference and ensure that there is a programme for the summit that is “peaceful, educational and instructive.”

Guiseppi reported that Dumas appreciated the involvement of the groups in the organisation of the event, so much so that once the event is staged successfully, he promised to assist in carrying out trade union and civil society agendas.

“As long as the summit is beneficial for the masses and the labour union and civil society could unify and present a good display of this country, the minister assured that Government would assist union programmes and civil society programmes in whatever way necessary,” he said.

He added Dumas will meet with groups again to find out the progress of plans for the summit. Unions, he said, would also meet with civil society and they plan to look at previous summits to get ideas on how to host the upcoming event.