Prime Minister Gaston Browne used Tuesday’s VC Bird Day ceremony to deliver a pointed message to the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), telling its executive members they have a responsibility to preserve unity within the movement.
Speaking before union members, government officials and the wider public, Browne said the strength of the labour movement has always been central to national progress, and that unity remains essential as Antigua and Barbuda continues to advance.
In a remark he described as “subtle,” Browne told the AT&LU leadership, “You all have an obligation to ensure that you keep the union united. We expect and we demand nothing less but full unity within the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union.”
He tied the message to decades of cooperation among the 39ers, the 76ers and later generations of political and labour leaders, calling unity the foundation that allowed Antigua and Barbuda to transition from colonial rule to a modern state.
Browne also pointed to the governing party’s internal cohesion as an example, saying, “Within the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, we are solidly united.” He urged union leaders to safeguard the same spirit of togetherness, warning that divisions would weaken the movement’s ability to represent workers and contribute to national development.
The Prime Minister framed cooperation across institutions as a national imperative, especially heading into 2026. He told the audience, “Even though we have our political differences, there must come a time when we can join our efforts in order to advance our country. It cannot always be about tearing down each other.”
Browne’s remarks were delivered in a ceremony honouring the legacy of Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr., who founded both the union and the Labour Party. The call for unity echoed the historical connection between the institutions and the shared responsibility to continue Bird’s nation-building work.
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