Unlike some of the other islands, where there are Labour Parties and active labour unions, which hold parades and other related activities, Anguilla held its usual annual fun day at the Ronald Webster Park on Tuesday, May 1, for public and private sector workers.

Mr. Goddard (2nd from right backrow) and Tripartite Committee

This seemed quite amusing to Joseph Goddard, Secretary-General of the Barbados National Workers’ Union, who was in Anguilla at the time. He came with a message to workers that while they had every reason to enjoy themselves with a fun day, there was a need to consider the serious side of Labour Day and the importance of worker representation. He was here at the invitation of the Government to assist with the revamping of the Tripartite Committee which was set up to look at labour matters on the island.

Mr. Goddard held discussions with members of the committee, headed by Ensor Gumbs, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, addressed a public meeting at the Teachers’ Resource Centre and delivered of a message from the ILO office at the Fund Day activities at the Park.

Mr. Joseph Goddard

Mr. Gumbs said Mr. Goddard’s visit was two-fold: “To bring back the important and serious side of Labour Day that needs to be addressed in Anguilla.” He stated that it was felt that having someone with knowledge of unionism it would be possible “to bring an awareness to the workers of Anguilla of the importance of Labour Day.”

Goddard said there was a need for social dialogue in Anguilla relating to labour matters. “I am glad to see that a renewed decision has been taken in Anguilla to embark on a path to social dialogue,” he said. According to Mr. Goddard, it appeared that the Director of the ILO office in Trinidad was surprised that the observance of Labour Day had been discontinued in Anguilla and was replaced by a fun day. The Director therefore hurriedly tried to get him to talk about the importance of Labour Day.

Goddard was of the opinion that as the workforce in Anguilla was comparatively small, there should be the establishment of one union but with different sections such as for construction, the hospitality industry and the civil service.

“You must make a concerted effort to come together as a first effort to form a union and then have a strategic alliance or work more closely,” he advised. “Another alternative would be to have a confederation with which the existing bodies would affiliate with.” He stated that if four or five unions would come together the financial burden would be easier.

Meanwhile, President of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union, Leroy Hill, called on all worker groups on the island “to put aside their differences and work harmoniously to form a confederation of unions.”

Hill spoke on behalf of the Anguilla Civil Service Association, the Anguilla Hotel and Allied Workers’ Union, the Chamber of Commerce and the Nurses’ Association.

Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Calvin Bartlett, told the workers that while fun day gave them a time to enjoy themselves, there was a need to be thankful for the strength and resilience of the island’s economy.

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