A short programme of activities was announced this week in observance of the 40th Anniversary of the Anguilla Civil Service Association.
A substantial part of the programme was a three-day workshop from Monday to Wednesday conducted by Sandra Messiah, the Sub-regional Secretary for Public Services International based in Barbados. As the name suggests, “it is an international organisation to which the Anguilla Civil Service Association is affiliated,” she told The Anguillian on Monday.
“We are conducting a workshop to develop writing and trade union materials that can be used by ACSA here in Anguilla and colleagues from Antigua and Barbuda and St Maarten in a similar exercise. The intention is building our trade union movement, equipping our members, providing knowledge, building skills and adapting our attitudes to deal with the issues facing us today.”
Meanwhile, ACSA’s President, Gerard Gumbs, said that the organisation planned to embark on a number of activities during the course of the year. He hoped that the activities would benefit members and the public service in general.
The activities were launched with a church service at the Church of God (Holiness) on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue on Sunday, September 22. Following that, the members of ACSA attended an anniversary luncheon at the Anguilla Great House.
Other activities include a “Back-in-time” dance on December 18, 2013; a 40th Anniversary Dinner Dance in 2014; the production of an anniversary booklet; workshops, seminars and training for executive and other members of ACSA.
The Association is also expected to conduct a review of its present constitution as well as a membership drive.
Among other issues ACSA hopes to address include the formulation of a Trade Union Congress. Discussions are in progress on this and other related matters with the other four trade unions. These are the Anguilla Teachers’ Union; the Anguilla Nurses’ Association, the Police Welfare Association and the Hotel Workers’ Association.
