Pan Africanists praise local social activist Robert ‘Bobby’ Clarke

As Barbadians celebrate Emancipation Day on Monday,  lawyer and social activist Robert Bobby Clarke is being lauded for his significant contribution to the trade union movement and defending the rights of the working class.

President of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration David Denny who delivered a tribute to Clarke during the Emancipation Day celebrations at the Emancipation Statue, said Clarke played a major role in working with former Cuban President Fidel Castro to develop the Caribbean scholarship programme which has benefitted many students.

Denny said Clarke who played a major role in the labour movement, also organized for a number of leading trade unionists to study in Cuba, Russia and other countries.

Celebrations at the Emancipation Statue earlier today.

He added that Clarke also led a trade union in the early 1980s which fought for the rights of workers at various establishments but it experienced significant operational challenges due to a number of interruptions from various external parties.

“It was the most revolutionary period and struggle for working class people within the trade union movement in the early 1980s, and all of that was led by Robert Bobby Clarke.

“And I am saying this here so that you would understand that Bobby made a very serious contribution to the labour movement. And I want to honour Bobby for developing that labour movement that helped to create the conditions for all of us in Barbados,” he said.

Denny said in the 1980s, the trade union movement made changes in creating conditions for workers to be able to join a union of their choice.

“And that is why today because of Bobby’s contribution, workers are now able to join a trade union of their choice. So, brothers and sisters, I want to say to Bobby thank you for your contribution and I know that you will continue to contribute to the labour movement and that you can act as an advisor because we have a lot of work to do within this labour movement so that the working class in Barbados can be properly represented,” Denny said.

Bobby who is in his 80’s was unable to attend the event due to health-related circumstances.

The Emancipation Day celebrations were organized by the Division of Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office.

(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)