Grooms' president threatens strike action over possible security changes

ERROL THOMAS, grooms' association president at Caymanas Park, says his group is restive and is demanding answers as to why Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), for the second year running, is adamant about making major security changes at the racetrack without consultation.

Speaking to The Gleaner on Saturday, Thomas was in a more militant mood than trainers' association president Vincent Edwards who said he would be taking his concerns to Contractor General Greg Christie.

"We get to understand there are some changes coming with the security but there has been no consultation with us. We're just here in the stableyard and we don't understand how they could do that. CTL hasn't said anything to us," Thomas lamented.

The trainers and grooms' associations are upset that they were kept in the dark regarding new security arrangements at Caymanas Park in which the National Contracts Committee (NCC) has approved the bid of Quest Security to replace McKay Security, the company which has secured the racetrack for the last 16 years.

Responding to Thomas and trainers' association president Vin Edwards claims of being excluded from the process of tender bids for a new security contract at Caymanas Park, CTL's deputy chairman, Raphael Gordon, last Thursday told The Gleaner "consultation with owners, trainer or grooms" was not a part of government's procurement policies.

However, Thomas said this can't be so.

"Out of everybody else, we're here from 3 a.m. Some of us almost live here. We're up early going to the pool, taking horses to sea. Grooms work the hardest, from 3 to 10 am. We can call the security anytime and they accompany us to the pool, walk with us to the gate when going to sea. Will these new people do the same?" Thomas asked.

"Is that included in the new contract? Even if it wasn't in the old one, the present security does that. We have a 24-hour patrol and want to know if things will remain the same," he pointed out.

The grooms, Thomas said, aren't about to be as accommodating as the trainers.

"Everybody is upset about it. It's just spreading through the yard. When that is official, there are going to be a lot of upset people down here.

"The trainers are also talking about it and say they intend to stand up for it. I heard they've written to the contractor general but we're ready to strike to show how serious we are," he added.