Moore throws challenge to new government

General Elections are upon us and whoever wins the seats of power come Election Day on May 24, the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, has thrown out a challenge to them.

Moore’s challenge came during the May Day event, which took place at Browne’s Beach on Tuesday evening. Under the theme ‘The Future We Want’, Moore called for “those who want to form our next government” to commit to enacting legislation which seeks to strengthen trade union registration.

“We will not miss the opportunity to say publicly to those seeking to lead this country into the next five years that even where we are looking to encourage investment, the welfare of our citizens must not be undermined in the process,” she said.

“Let us reflect on those periods when we considered Barbados to be at its strongest. An empowered workforce means an empowered people who are inspired, exulting free … and greater will our nation grow in strength and unity.”

Moore noted that this May is a time for the workers of Barbados to make a serious analysis of the times in which we are living and set out to chart a course for the future that they want.

“The future we want must be one driven by social justice and a fair share for all; a Barbados that leaves no one behind,” she said.

“Our people want decent jobs, access to quality free health care and education, an honest and responsive government, a clean and healthy environment, a fair chance in life, an upturn in our economic situation, a re-commitment to genuine social dialogue and partnership. We want a future where our government is prepared to represent and take on the interests of the many and not the few.”

Therefore, the general secretary believed it was important to tackle the rising issues such as inequality and the like. She expressed that they wanted a future where the youth felt empowered.

“Job creation must be a foremost concern for all those who seek to serve the people of Barbados. We need a renewed commitment to creative avenues of productive employment to make sure that our young women and men are given the opportunity to make a contribution to our society,” she said.