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NUPW to decide next move

by Randy Bennett
3 min read
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The National Council of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) will be exploring all its options in wake of the court’s decision to reinstate Akanni McDowall as a member of the union and to allow him to contest upcoming presidential elections.

Justice Cecil McCarthy delivered the ruling on Thursday morning in the Supreme Court, as he also directed the NUPW not to hold the elections within 21 days. He also ordered that McDowall be allowed to submit his candidacy for president on or before July 29.

McDowall was suspended as president and a member of the union, by the National Council, on June 23. The court ruling does not apply to the suspension of his presidential duties, as the reinstatement applies only to his union membership.

When contacted for comment, the NUPW’s Acting General Secretary Wayne Walrond said: “I can’t say anything on this matter.”

However, Barbados TODAY was reliably informed that the National Council, the union’s highest decision-making body, is to host an emergency meeting on Thursday evening.

McDowall’s two challengers for the post of president, Kimberley Agard and Fabian Jones, told Barbados TODAY the court’s ruling would have little impact on their preparations.

In fact, Agard said she was happy that a timeline had been set as to when the elections could be called.

“It is one step closer to us having a date, because the purpose of my presidency is not to focus on who my opponents are, whether or not they were one or two persons, but my focus was always to be able to get past this hurdle [for my team] to become the new executive of the NUPW so that we can put the NUPW on the path of respect and growth and progress as we think it should be,” she said.

“The ruling of the court does not really affect me as a candidate because I am still going to keep my eye on the prize and focus on winning the elections, because even now more than ever we need to get over this hurdle of court battles and chaos and the infighting and we need to refocus on the needs of the workers.”

Meanwhile, Jones told Barbados TODAY he was on the campaign trail when he got news of the court’s ruling.

He, too, said he was not worried or dismayed and would continue to canvas until the election date was announced.

“Through all of the goings on with the court and the union and Brother McDowall, I’ve always stayed the course in relation to my groundwork because I know the election has to be called sometime and whether it was one or two challengers I am treating to my campaign as normal with all engines full steam ahead.

“So, to me, this doesn’t change a lot. I welcome the challenge, there is no fear. I believe that from the feedback I am getting on the ground that Team Vision for the worker’s interest has a great chance to be the alternative,” Jones said.
(randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)

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