Hunte’s pick for the Senate a nod to labour, BWU

The choice of Julian Hunte as the independent senator to replace Toni Moore is a vote of confidence from the Governor General on the strength and leadership of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) on issues of labour in Barbados.

This was the analysis of political scientist Dr. George Belle moments after Hunte, a former BWU Deputy General Secretary was sworn in by Dame Sandra Mason on Friday.

According to Belle, the GG appeared to have been searching for candidates with connection to labour, filling the shoes of Moore, the current General Secretary of the BWU.

“If you just take it on the surface, it appears that the person is identifiable as having an association with the BWU, and they are identifiable as having an association with labour,” Dr. Belle told Barbados TODAY.

“All she has done is to replace what was there before with somebody of equivalency even though [Hunte] is not equivalent, because nobody can be the equivalent of the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union.

“Obviously there are people in the BWU who might be more high-ranking right now in terms of proximity to the top office, but I presume they may have had something to say to the GG as well in relation to whether they were interested,” the academic added.

According to Dr. Belle, Dame Sandra’s choice of the BWU is consistent with its standing historically as the country’s “strongest” trade union and an indication that the perception has continued.

“She could have gone to a different trade union altogether, but I think there is something important about going to the BWU. It is historically, and I would say currently, the strongest trade union in Barbados and therefore she could say that she is satisfying the interests of labour by making that choice,” Belle explained.

“It has a strength in its own right and is like a trade union congress within the landscape of Barbados. And therefore the Governor General in her judgement could use someone from the BWU instead of one of the umbrella organisations,” he added.

Hunte, 44, is currently an assistant registrar at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus with responsibility for industrial relations.

Sixteen years ago, he joined the BWU as an industrial relations officer before rising to the rank of Deputy General Secretary and Director of Industrial Relations where he served for nine years. Hunte then moved into the private sector where he “championed workers’ rights” as well.

During his brief conversation with journalists, the new senator promised to draw on his union experience when making decisions in the Upper House.

Pointing to his experience on the other end of the industrial relations table, Hunte stressed that he could also provide balance.

“I will be focusing primarily on matters and perspective as they impact upon the trade union movement and the practice of industrial relations in general. For me, this is an opportunity to give back to my country and contribute in a field that I love, and to which I have been committed for almost 20 years,” he pledged.

“There are matters which are ongoing that will impact the trade union movement in ways that the movement has not seen before. There will therefore need to be a recognition that robust and frank discussions will have to happen. Generally, I think we will be moving to strike a balance between the rights which labour has fought for and won over the years with the responsibilities that come with our country’s capacity to maintain those rights and privileges,” the newest senator said.

The seat in the Upper Chamber became available following Moore’s resignation earlier this week to make a political bid for the St. George North seat left vacant by the resignation of former Barbados Labour Party MP Gline Clarke.

Dr. Belle, responding to criticism of Moore, explained that the Governor General was under no obligation to choose a senator who is independent of political persuasion. Instead he noted that the term “independent” within the context meant the GG was expected to act independent of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.

As a result, Hunte, in his opinion, is not obligated to fill the shoes of Moore and should feel no pressure to do so, he added. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)