Franklyn: $400 from BLP not for Unity Workers’ Union

by Kareem Smith

Nasty and Untrue!

That is how Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn has described suggestions that his Unity Workers’ Union begged for financial assistance from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in its early stages of existence and that he is still a member of the party.

In a stinging rebuttal to Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s claims at a political meeting on Sunday night, the outspoken union leader claimed that the current administration has been attempting to silence him with promises of high-level appointments and a seat in the Lower House of Parliament.

He contends that after failing to buy him over, the administration is now “catching at straws” as members seek to defend the selection of Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) General Secretary, Independent Senator Toni Moore as their representative in the St George North by-election.

On Sunday evening, Mottley hit out at the Opposition senator’s “hypocrisy”, claiming that he was the BLP’s only union leader currently sitting in Parliament.

Mottley also declared that she was puzzled by Franklyn’s recent assertion that her government is the “most anti-worker administration in living memory” because at her request, Franklyn’s union received financial assistance in the form of rent money from the party.

She also discouraged Barbadians from listening to his “misinformation” on industrial relations matters and criticized the media for providing him with “a level playing field as if he is telling the truth”.

“I know that the only union that I have ever had to… take money from the Barbados Labor Party’s resources and to help, not because we wanted to be invidious, but because they needed it . . . and so committed are we to the workers’ rights that I [gave instructions] to pay the rent for the Unity Trade Union for the first few months of its existence.

“I never gave the [Barbados] Workers’ Union any money or Toni Moore or Leroy Trotman. I have come to them to help us. [Franklyn] came to us for a handout and a help up” the Prime Minister declared.

In response, however, Franklyn, who carries the banner of the opposition People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) in the Upper Chamber, explained that he received $400 to assist with a number of personal bills when he was unemployed some years ago. But he was adamant that he received no money from the BLP to assist the UWU.

“That wasn’t a rebuttal. That is being nasty, and it is untrue. Mia Mottley never gave the Unity Workers’ Union a cent.

“As a matter of fact, Unity Workers’ Union operated from my living room for the first five years of its existence, so we didn’t need rent. I only started paying rent in 2015 when I got an office in Bridgetown,” the trade unionist contended.

“It came from a foundation that [Parris] told me that she was responsible for, that helps people who are having difficulties. I had difficulties as a member of the Barbados Labour Party.

“It didn’t have anything to do with Unity. That is a lie, and it was $400 only. That is the only money I have ever received from Pat Parris in my life and that was to help me with my bills when I was unemployed. That is the truth, and nothing but,” Franklyn added.

Franklyn also claimed that like Moore, the party has been trying to “trap” him for some time with promises of the prospect of a parliamentary seat in St Thomas.

In fact, he claimed that at a meeting of the National Security Council, and in the presence of MPs, senators, the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Mottley offered him a position that would give him responsibility for the public service and require all Permanent Secretaries
to report to him.

“She didn’t hide her mouth or call me to a side. She announced it at the meeting, so they can’t deny that,” Franklyn said.

“I told her to her face ‘Prime Minister, if I take that job, there would be no good trade unionists left.

“I don’t know if they would admit, because they were all there. The only person that I recall being absent was Toni Moore, who was away on union business.

“I would have been chairman of a revamped public service full time. She was creating that job for me,” the union boss added.

Efforts to getresponse on these claims from the office of the Prime Minister were unsuccessful up until the time of publication.

In response to Mottley’s claims that he is still a member of the BLP, Franklyn declared that he has not paid dues in over a decade and is therefore not in good standing.

“They are clutching at straws,” he said.

“I don’t have anything personal against them. Even Santia, the poor child has been attacking me too, but I wouldn’t attack Santia . . .  I will not get into the gutter with them. That is not me,” Franklyn added.

kareeemsmith@barbadostoday.bb