In a significant development for Caribbean labor representation, Kem Riley, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU), has achieved a landmark electoral victory. Riley was elected to the prestigious position of 3rd Vice-President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) during the organization’s 22nd Triennial Delegates Conference in Trinidad and Tobago.
The conference, operating under the unifying theme ‘One Caribbean, One Voice: Advancing Workers’ Rights through Governance and Solidarity’, served as a gathering point for labor representatives throughout the region. Riley attended the proceedings alongside ABWU delegates Joshua Pigott and Chenise Lewis, participating in critical dialogues aimed at enhancing worker protections and fostering collaborative initiatives across Caribbean nations.
This electoral achievement represents a substantial elevation of Antigua and Barbuda’s profile within regional labor governance structures. The ABWU has characterized Riley’s appointment as a transformative moment that will amplify the nation’s voice in pan-Caribbean labor discussions. The new position enables direct input into policy formulation and strategic decision-making processes affecting workers throughout the Caribbean community.
The CCL conference agenda focused on developing comprehensive strategies to address contemporary labor challenges, including the evolution of workplace regulations, social protection frameworks, and collective bargaining mechanisms in an increasingly integrated regional economy.