Ready to rumble

Without much fanfare, Akanni McDowall on Wednesday filed his nomination papers to contest the presidency of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), almost one week after the law courts gave him the green light to do so.

And he’s quietly confident he can get the job done whenever the elections are called.

“Every day, several members are calling and requesting that I run for elections, therefore I was nominated and I accepted the nomination,” he told Barbados TODAY.

Back in June, the former union boss was suspended by the NUPW’s National Council on nomination day, pending investigations into charges that he brought the union into disrepute.

Among the charges, McDowall was accused of promoting a resolution brought by member Natalie Murray that sought to install him as secretary general of the organization for four years.

Last Thursday, High Court judge Cecil McCarthy ordered McDowall’s reinstatement as a member only and ordered that the election could not be held within 21 days, giving McDowall time to submit his nomination and campaign for the vote.

McDowall, who remains tightlipped about his strategy, said on Wednesday: “I am exercising my right to participate in the elections like any other member, a request that was constitutionally denied and was restored by the High Court.”

He has pledged to outline his plans at a later date.

McDowall will go up against Fabian Jones and Kimberly Agard for the top post.