Former president of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union AT and LU, Ambassador
Wigley George, led a field of three persons singled out for special awards at the
union’s 85 th anniversary awards ceremony and luncheon held on Sunday.
Ambassador George has the distinction of serving the union for 46 years, 29 of
which he held the position of president, surpassing even the legendary leader of the
Union, Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, as the longest serving president in the union’s
history.
Current AT&LU President, Bernard DeNully, described Ambassador George as a
mentor and showered him with praise for the many years of service he gave to the
union. “Ambassador, Comrade Wigley George, CN, is a giant of a man. He is
undeniably worthy of being written in the history books as a man of service to
country. With 46 years of service to the Antigua Trades and Labour Union, 29 of
those years, Comrade George sat as President. Comrade George is a household
name and his sterling contribution to Trades Labour Movement is untouched,” he
stated.
DeNully revealed that since he was fist elected as a member of the executive of the
AT and LU, Amb. George ‘took him under his wings’ by both mentoring and sharing
with him his vast experiences as a member of the union representing the interests
of workers.
For his work for and on behalf of the AT and LU, Amb. George was presented with
the President’s Award.
The award from the AT and LU General Secretary went to Harold Carter, who at 94,
is the last surviving member of the Group of 12 men who took strike action in
1951 and who were imprisoned for their action. “Comrade Carter is now the last
surviving hero and stalwart of one of the most historic strike actions and
demonstration of workers’ resolve and sacrifice in our nation’s history,” the
introductory literature stated.
The third person honoured was the General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda
Labour Party, Senator Mary-Clare Hurst. Her accomplishments as a senator and
Leader of Government Business in the Upper House were highlighted as well as
her chairmanship of the Antigua Port Authority, the first for a female. “Under her
stewardship, she has led the port re-development project and has stared the human
resource development that is now required to keep pace with the transformation
and continued execution of the strategic development of the port as a major player
in regional sea transportation services,” the literature noted.
The theme for the 85 th anniversary of the AT and LU is ‘Embracing the past as we
create a future building on 85 years of dedication, sacrifice and service’. The
event was held at People’s Place on Nugent Avenue, headquarters of the ABLP.
