Personnel from the Labour Department, which functions directly under the Chief Minister’s portfolio, and from the Health Authority of Anguilla, which also falls under his portfolio, but is a statutory body run by a Board of Directors, were at a church service at the Central Baptist Church at Rey Hill, on Sunday, April 27.
The staff members of the Labour Department were there in the run-up to this week Thursday’s Labour Day observance; and the Medical Laboratory Professionals attended the service in celebration of the customary week of activities held in and outside the Caribbean region.
The officers of both organisations were welcomed by the Senior Minister, Pastor Cecil Richardson. He made references to their important duties in the Anguillian community; their hard work and dedication under challenging difficulties; and expressed thanks and appreciation to them on behalf of the congregation and himself. He also took the opportunity to invite them to the altar where he offered prayers for them.
Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, who was among those at the service, was given an opportunity to speak at the occasion. He spoke at some length about the Anguilla Labour Policy which provides that Anguillians must be considered “first and nationals from the rest of the Caribbean second” in terms of employment. He went on: “Many years I have had a concern of having someone in the Labour Office who would do a proper job because it is a very important job, and Labour Officers can be bribed. We have been offered bribes. I have been offered bribes and I believe Labour Commissioners have been offered bribes as well in the past. But I am so happy and I am blessed. I am blessed with a Labour Commissioner whom I am so pleased with. I have a Labour Commissioner who can be trusted and who is doing a wonderful job for Anguilla – and you all should be thankful for the Labour Commissioner we have today. She is doing a wonderful job. She is looking out for the people of Anguilla first and she is making sure that everything goes right. We are challenged to produce work for our people and that is our moral obligation.”
Mr Hughes, also spoke about the Health Authority. “I am also responsible for health,” he stated. He stressed that, as the Board was “not under the Government’s administration as such, “I have endless problems with the health system…I am very unhappy about it and I pledge to you that I will continue to try my best to do something about it.”
The service proceeded with additional words of commendation for both organisations, as stated earlier, by Pastor Richardson; and a call for the people of Anguilla to give them their support. Pastor Richardson’s sermon, entitled “How is it with Your Heart”, was a general reflection on the need for upright living and an appeal for dedication to Christian living and service.
