Antigua Prime Minister to speak at BIU Labour Day banquet.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10: BIU President, Brother Chris Furbert is excited to announce that the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, has accepted his invitation to speak at this year’s Labour Day Banquet on Friday, August 31, 2012.  The Banquet will again be held at the Fairmont Southampton Resort and Spa.

“Prime Minister Spencer has been a friend of the BIU for over thirty years because of his involvement with trade unionism prior to leading his party, the United Progressive Party, to a landslide victory in the general election on March 24, 2004,” said Brother Furbert.  “The Prime Minister is rooted in labour and he was the 1st Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union before becoming Prime Minister.”

Prime Minister Spencer played an integral role in the formation of the United Progressive Party.  He previously served as leader of the United National Democratic Party and spearheaded collaborative meetings with the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement that resulted in the formation of the United Progressive Party.  Upon formation of the party, the Prime Minister rose to become the political leader of the party, and the Opposition Leader in Parliament.  He first entered Parliament in 1989 representing the people in the St. Johns Rural West Constituency and was the Leader of the Opposition until his party’s historic victory in 2004.

Baldwin Spencer spent over a quarter of a century in labour negotiations, serving in the highest positions in the trade union movement.  In addition to serving as 1st Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, he also served as Assistant General Secretary.  He also served as President of the Caribbean Maritime and Aviation Council.

Over the course of his career in public service, Prime Minister Spencer has established himself as an integral part of Antigua’s social fabric.  His involvement includes:  The Antigua Football Association, the Antigua Cricket Association, the Antigua Steelband Association, the Halcyon Steel Orchestra and Executive member of the Past Pupils and Teachers Assocation of the Greenbay Government School, just to name a few. 

Internationally, Prime Minister Spencer served as the Chairperson of the Grup of 77 and China at the United Nations.  In 2008 he assumed the Chairmanship of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations within CORICOM , and the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from July 208.  In August 2008, Prime Minister Spencer received the Commander of the National Order of Cote d’Ivoire, which is the highest honour of that African nation.  Prime Minister Spencer is the Chief Pathfinder in the Northern Hemisphere of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Persons interested in obtaining tickets for the banquet should contact Sister LaVerne Furbert at 292-0044 or by e-mail at [email protected].   The cost of the banquet tickets remain at $100.00 each.

Labour Day will be celebrated on Monday, September 3, 2012.  The Joint Labour Day Organising Committee has a slew of activities planned, including the traditional Labour Day March and road race.