Trinidad unions' protest ban response questioned

A recent legal notice prohibiting protests at 15 sites across Trinidad and Tobago has drawn condemnation from leaders of at least ten trade unions, including the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA). The unions gathered for a news conference to denounce the notice, which they argue infringes upon the right to protest.

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Proactivity is usually sensible if it makes sense. However, is the legal notice permanent? It only impacts locations of protests, not the right to protest within the law.

However, the article critiques the timing and nature of the unions' response, particularly their decision to challenge the prohibition during a state of emergency. The author questions the "proactivity" of the unions, suggesting their actions might stem from "trepidation" at being prevented from accessing these specific protest locations, rather than a well-considered legal strategy.

The TTUTA president's symbolic act of tearing the legal notice is described as "plainly foolish" and a "look meh" moment, aimed at gaining attention rather than achieving a substantive outcome. The article contrasts this with past protest methods, noting that while protests have historically occurred at Parliament, doing so during a state of emergency is viewed as ill-advised.

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the legal notice

The piece suggests that the teachers' union, arguably the most powerful in the country, should exercise more "practical judgment or common sense." It implies that the unions' current approach is confused and that they should trust intelligence gathered by the police rather than engaging in what is perceived as a futile challenge to the law.

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the Prime Minister’s powerful hint about common sense