Gracehill Moravian Church Overflows with Celebration and Tribute at 74th Labour Day Thanksgiving Service

With every pew filled and voices lifted in praise, the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) came together in thanksgiving at the Gracehill Moravian Church to mark the 74th Anniversary of Labour Day. This annual Thanksgiving Service brought together comrades, party faithful, and union members from across the nation in a spirit of gratitude, solidarity, and celebration of labour’s enduring legacy.

The church, resonant with harmonies from the ABLP Choir, was a moving testament to the power of faith and community. Party leaders, executive members, and supporters joined hands to honour the sacrifices of generations past and recommit to the cause of workers’ rights and national progress.

The service also featured a special tribute to Cde. Rufus Adolphus Lewis, OM, a towering figure in Antigua and Barbuda’s labour movement. Born on July 9, 1927, Comrade Lewis was only 15 years old when he joined the AT&LU, just weeks after its founding in January 1939. Over the decades, he served with distinction—first as Secretary of the Union’s Swetes Section, then as Shop Steward for Non-Established Workers at the Public Works Department. He later became a longstanding member of the AT&LU Executive Committee, serving unbroken for 22 years, and eventually rose to the rank of 1st Vice President, retiring in 2001.

In his role, Comrade Lewis was also appointed to the National Labour Board and the National Minimum Wage Committee. He represented the union in numerous regional and international conferences and training seminars, always upholding the cause of Antigua and Barbuda’s workers with grace, strength, and dedication. As he was honoured during the service, he was celebrated not only for his achievements but for his unwavering loyalty to the working class and the principles of unionism.

The atmosphere was further uplifted by the presence of the 2025 ABLP Labour Queen and her royal court, who added a youthful and regal touch to the occasion. Representing their constituencies with elegance and pride were: 3rd Runner-Up – Aaliyah Taylor, St. John’s Rural West, 2nd Runner-Up – Abigail Piper, St. John’s Rural North, 1st Runner-Up – Christine Powell, St. John’s City West, and your Labour Queen 2025 – Denijah Simon

Their attendance underscored the connection between legacy and the future, linking generations of leaders and dreamers in one shared mission of nation-building.

As hymns of thanksgiving soared through Gracehill and tributes were paid to those who laboured for justice and fairness, the event served as a powerful reminder: the labour movement in Antigua and Barbuda remains vibrant, determined, and rooted in community and faith.

The AT&LU, in celebrating Labour Day 2025, once again affirms its commitment to the people, to progress, and to the principle that together, in unity, there is strength.