PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – In a significant development for regional labor representation, Antiguan trade union leaders have achieved prominent electoral victories during the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) conference held at Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies on December 7th, 2025.
Bernard de Nully, President of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), has been elected to the General Council of the CCL, ending the organization’s prolonged absence from regional labor governance. This achievement marks a substantial milestone for AT&LU’s regional engagement strategy.
The electoral success extended beyond de Nully’s appointment. Kem Riley, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), secured the position of Third Vice President, while Janela Evanson, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA), also gained a Council Member seat.
During the conference, President de Nully served as a distinguished panel speaker, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining global labor standards and practices throughout the Caribbean region. His address highlighted the indispensable role of worker organizations in policy formation and addressing pressing labor challenges, aligning with International Labour Organization (ILO) principles.
The Antiguan delegation, which included AT&LU First Vice President Lisa-Ann Yearwood and Executive Member Jaquis Browne, demonstrated a cohesive front dedicated to advancing workers’ rights and enhancing labor standards across the Caribbean.
In his address, President de Nully stressed the necessity of solidarity: ‘Strengthening local trade union unity is fundamental to sustaining our regional and international efforts. We must embrace trade unionism’s value, cease counterproductive institutional undermining, and collectively advocate for workers’ rights in alignment with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and CCL’s mission at the CARICOM level.’
The AT&LU reaffirmed its commitment to fortifying regional partnerships and amplifying the voices of Antiguan and Barbudan workers on international platforms through continued tripartite consultations.