Local and international labour leaders will discuss the Free Trade Area Agreement of the Americas and its implications at an historic, first international labour forum to be held in The Bahamas.
The event starts Monday, October 28 at The Raiinforest Theatre, Crystal Palace Hotel.
The five-day conference, dubbed "Knowing and Preparing for the Challenge" will feature a plenary session with IDB specialist, Dr. Robert Develin, who will speak on the challenge for small countries with emphasis on service economies.
Juliet Mallet Phillip and Pamela Cook Hamilton will discuss "The role of the OAS in the FTAA process."
Trade Union of Congress President and Conference Chairman Obie Ferguson said the high level meeting is of great importance as The Bahamas faces a unique challenge in that it is a service-based economy.
He said as responsible citizens, Bahamians must educate themselves on the FTAA process to better understand the impact of globalisation on the community.
Mr. Ferguson said the purpose of the conference is to recognise the need for increased information and participation of the different sectors of civil society, to develop regional working relationships, to educate and exchange information, and to obtain a better appreciation for member nation's position and approach in determining possible FTAA impacts on those states which may have already begun to take effect.
"Outside of what has happened recently, we have not prepared our people for this, and, I think, the Trade Union of Congress have a duty to initiate this," Mr. Ferguson said during an interview at the Guardian.
He invited as many members as possible of the 167,000-strong Bahamian workforce to find a way to attend, if not all, at least some of the conference sessions. He urged all employers to release and sponsor workers if only for one day to participate.
"It is really a pleasure for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas' Trade Union of Congress to be hosting such a significant and historic International Labour Conference," Mr. Ferguson said.
"We decided that the time had come for us to do something and do it in a comprehensive and all-inclusive way, and that is to bring all Bahamians involved in the picture, particularly when you are talking about the free movement of people, free movement of capital. These areas are of much concern to Bahamians, so we have decided that as a movement we will put this conference on," he said.
The Bahamas Christian Council and the Chamber of Commerce played a very important role in helping to organise the event.
At the end of the meeting, labour leaders will produce a report on their findings.
Keva Lightbourn, The Nassau Guardian
