The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers will mark its 100th anniversary this year, with union leaders describing the milestone as a testament to resilience and progress in a profession that was once barred from collective organization.
Speaking during a broadcast interview, Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers General Secretary Sharon Clifford Kelsick said the centennial, spanning 1926 to 2026, reflects decades of commitment by teachers who fought for recognition and rights.
“To get to this place, it has to mean something,” Kelsick said. “It has to mean that there’s longevity, that there’s been commitment over the years.”
She noted that when the union was founded, it was illegal for teachers to organize, contrasting that history with the union’s present standing.
“To come from a place where in 1926 it was illegal for them to come together, to where we are now, where we are forced to be reckoned with, that speaks volumes,” she said.
As part of the anniversary observances, the union plans a year-long campaign highlighting the contributions of retired teachers, with two educators to be recognized each month through its public platforms.
“We think that it is important to give persons their flowers before they die,” Kelsick said, adding that the initiative is meant to honour those who shaped the profession but may no longer be in the classroom.
ABUT President Casroy Charles said the union’s longevity is the result of collective effort involving its membership, leadership and the state.
“It will be impossible to forget any of the stakeholders,” Charles said. “The government has its part to play, the membership has its part to play, and the executive has its part to play.”
Union leaders said plans are also underway for an official launch of the centennial celebrations, with the date and venue still being finalized in collaboration with partners.
The anniversary, they said, will serve not only as a celebration, but as a period of reflection on past struggles and the work that remains ahead for the teaching profession.