Francis and Dottin battle for PWU Presidency

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Details: Parent Category: New Today - roundup; Category: Apr 2013; Published: Saturday, 06 April 2013 23:22; Hits: 1173

President of the Public Workers Union (PWU), Madonna Harford is calling it a day.

Harford who took over the union from Luret Clarkson in 2003 has decided to give way to fresh blood to take over the leadership. THE NEW TODAY understand that there are two contenders for the position -First Vice-President Adrian Francis who is attached to the Ministry of Health and Dr. Malachy Dottin, Director of Research and Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

The election of Officers for PWU takes place on April 9. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper on Tuesday, Francis said that after serving in the position of First Vice-President for ten years, he was being encouraged by members to offer himself for the top post to take PWU to the next level.

He said if elected there are two important matters he would like to tackle for the benefit of the approximate 3,000 membership. Francis is concerned that some workers in the twilight of their workers age have some resources that they can rely upon apart from what they will receive from the State-owned National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

He spoke of pension being a burning issue for every worker in this tough economic time. The PWU President Hopeful noted that most persons who are now retiring are not entitled to a pension. “I would strongly advocate that a contributory pension scheme be introduced,” he said.

The other area, Francis identified for address is the need to bring autonomy to members in the two sister isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Francis sees the need for a branch office to be set up in Carriacou for public officers there to run their own affairs.

A resident of Carriacou, Dexter Leggard is offering himself for the post of Second Vice-President of PWU. Dr. Dottin who also spoke to this newspaper clearly stated that there is no rivalry between himself and his opponent. The Happy Hill, St. George’s resident said he was nominated for the post by Fisheries Officer, Johnson St. Louis, with Augustine Vesprey who works in the Ministry of Education seconding it.

According to the Cuban-educated Dottin, after giving careful consideration, he consulted with Francis who felt that it was “good for democracy” if the post was contested. He is trying to get public officers to give him the nod trough a commitment to strengthen legislation and enforcement geared at combating domestic violence and sexual harassment at the work place.

Dr. Dottin said that foremost on his agenda once elected to the PWU Presidency is to establish after-school day care facilities for government employees thus enabling a more-friendly and fulfilling working environment, and to implement Paternity Leave Regulations.