Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo (fourth from right), taking part in the Annual May Day march alongside General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, Toni Moore (centre); BWU President, Linda Brooks (third from right); BWU Assistant General Secretary, Dwaine Paul (second from left); BSTU General Secretary, Andrew Brathwaite and other union officials yesterday.
Barbadians came out in large numbers to take part in the May Day march.
General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, Toni Moore (right), lays a wreath at the statue of National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Frank Walcott, alongside former BWU General Secretary Senator Sir Roy Trotman.
Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo lays a wreath at the statue of National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Frank Walcott while BWU President, Linda Brooks, looks on.
There is still hope, despite country’s challenges
THE annual May Day parade kicked off with great success, as it commenced at the Garrison Savannah and proceeded to its usual stop at the statue of National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Frank Walcott, which is located at the E. Humphrey Walcott Building on Culloden Road.
In remembrance of the National Hero, the parade was paused so that wreaths could be placed at the foot of his statue by governmental and non-governmental officials.
Sir Frank Walcott was an international figure in trade unionism, recognized as a forceful, reasonable negotiator and a progressive leader, and so great mention is made of him on this day. He used his resources to bring hope to many of the workers of the time. In addition, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary, had the Hero been alive.
Nevertheless, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, Toni Moore, noted that despite the dwindling numbers attending the parade, the show and quest in restoring hope will continue. She went on to say that she is in no way daunted by the turn out, noting that it merely suggests that there is more work that needs to be done, and that the message of hope, which May Day is all about, is one that needs to be proclaimed, so that workers would acknowledge the importance of the day and being a part of it.
Moreover, Minister of Labour, Esther Byer-Suckoo, remarking on the current challenges facing the country, noted that what is going on comes as no surprise.
“We know that we have had for an extensive period economic challenges, and these have affected workplaces… they have caused layoffs, they caused reduction in salaries, they caused unemployment, and so we know that would cause an issue.
“We also have the political climate heating up, as we have passed the midterm and we have new players in the industrial unions. I am not unduly concerned ,because there is no unrest in comparison to the rest of the world,” commented Byer-Suckoo.
To this end, the Minister joined in the General Secretary’s sentiments that there is hope. Pointing out a number of infrastructure that are efficiently running, Byer-Suckoo explained that the point that her Ministry is conveying is that despite the ongoing challenges, there is lively hope for them to be resolved.