No government worker has been sent home despite what PSA President Watson Duke has claimed. The denial was made by Communications Minister Donna Cox, who said:

“Mr Duke’s latest tirade is a deliberately crafted attempt to put the workers of the country against the Government. It is meant to lure public sector workers into believing that their jobs are being perniciously terminated and their salaries denied.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Government has on many occasions implored the private sector to make every effort to ensure that they keep their employees intact for at least four (4) weeks and would continue to lead by example.”

She further explained that only those involved in the prescribed essential services are allowed to actually be at work and even then, in as low numbers, to keep those services to continue to function efficiently.

She added: “Government workers are assured that during this temporary period of dislocation, they will all be paid their salaries. In the case of the workers at the Hilton Trinidad and Convention Centre and the Magdalena Hotel in Tobago where, like the rest of the world, occupancy rates have been reduced to an all-time low, a skeletal staff has been retained and is being rotated. This is for purposes of security and maintenance.”

Cox said the decision which was previously announced that the Hilton workers would have been sent home with total loss of pay, has been withdrawn. This has been as a result of the timely intervention by the Minister of Trade and Industry. These workers have since been assured of receipt of their salaries.