The headtable – CPSA’s executive
The executive body said, “it is one of the most highly attended conference in decades”. This was referring the Caribbean Public Service Association’s (CPSA) 42nd annual convention, held on the island of Montserrat from Sunday July 22-27. Under the theme “Public Services Driving Positive Change,” it involved over 125 public service union representatives from as far as Guyana in the South to Bermuda in the North.
A grand and impressive ceremonial flag raising service marked the opening of the week-long conference at the Montserrat Cultural Centre (MCC). Representatives from the various countries gave brief remarks and greeted fellow affiliates and attendees of the host country, sounding already the theme for the week, sharing their preconceived thoughts and expectations of Montserrat and how that had changed, having observed the level of development and progress of the island since the volcanic eruption.
Eighteen unions and some15 countries were represented at the conference. The group included Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, the Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, Bermuda, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dominica, Belize and Montserrat.
In comparison to the other countries, the Bajan group brought the largest contingent to the convention representing their affiliates a total of 32 members of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW).
Joseph Farrell-Taylor, Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour and acting Premier, the Honourable Easton Taylor-Farrell, gave the feature address and expressed his pleasure and delight with the positive remarks from the delegates. He then assured the group of the government’s commitment to reform and equipping the public service to allow it to drive positive changes.
At his turn during the ceremony, CPSA President and leader of the Montserrat Union, Mr. Paul Lewis encouraged local leaders to make sacrifices in the same way that “public servants are being asked to make in a time with serious financial challenges.” He called on the leaders of the public service unions to work on changing behaviours and attitudes in order to impact those they are asked to serve effectively.
On Monday and Tuesday, there were gender specific forums held for the delegates at the Centre, while youth forums took place at the Tropical Mansion Suites. The topics discussed addressed issues specific to women and men in the public service.
Delegates at the Youth forum
Wednesday and Thursday the conference conducted the business sessions at the end of which the presidency passed, by rotation to St. Lucia.
A press conference was held Wednesday morning which provided a mid-week briefing on the week’s events and their activities to date. It revealed that besides the discussions promoting women in action and the need for public servants to appreciate their very important role in the development of their respective countries, much debate was over the Montserrat new Public Service Act, which found disfavor with the Convention.
In the evenings, delegates enjoyed a number of social event, while on Friday they found the tours hikes and boat rides stretching. There was to crown all that a food fair at the Good Life Night Club in Little Bay followed in the evening a night of cabaret.
