Antigua union suspends secretary

The Antigua Trades and Labour Union has suspended its general secretary, Stafford Joseph, to allow an investigation into his conduct.



The three-month suspension takes immediate effect amidst claims that Joseph undermined the parental bond between the union and the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), which was founded from within its ranks more than a half-century ago.

The decision to let Joseph sit on the sidelines was taken at the opening of the union’s 70th annual delegates’ conference on Sunday.



As a result, it was also decided that the conference be postponed until January 23 next year to allow the investigative team to conduct the probe.

Local media reports say Ulrick Daniel, the deputy general secretary, will take up Joseph’s responsibilities in the meantime.



The relationship between the union and the ALP has been strained in recent months, especially with the union’s president Wigley George contesting the St Paul’s constituency as an independent candidate in the March 2009 general election.



George had failed to secure a spot on the ALP ticket.