Conference on race starts tomorrow

The National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW), in collaboration with the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) will host a symposium on “Ethnicity, Racism and Workers’ Solidarity” at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference facilities starting tomorrow and ending on Wednesday. Tomorrow, the symposium will feature speakers Keith Scotland, attorney-at-Law; Paula Robinson, senior specialist workers’ activities of the ILO and journalist Marion O’Callaghan. Day two of the symposium will feature Dr Roodal Moonilal, Opposition Member of Parliament; Dr Lester Henry, Economics Lecturer at the University of the West Indies; Cecil Paul, Retired Trade Unionist and Makandal Daaga.

These speakers will share their views in a panel discussion on “Race Relations — Where do we go from here?” The specially invited guest will be David Onyalo, the assistant secretary and former director of race relations of the Canadian Labour Congress who is expected to make a presentation. Speaking from his office, Robert Giuseppi, president general of NUGFW and the president of NATUC said, “Once again, the NUGFW has taken the bull by the horns and embarked on an activity that has raised eyebrows to say the least. “Nonetheless, the NUGFW with assistance from our international affiliates will host this symposium with such a controversial topic. These issues must be thoroughly discussed with a view to arriving at policies that would act in the national interest.”