FITUN – MANY STREAMS, ONE POWERFUL RIVER!
FITUN INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 4TH DECEMBER
At last! After some considerable time the Inaugural Conference of Delegates of FITUN will be happening. The date is Saturday December 4th! The venue is the OWTU Paramount Building, Circular Road, San Fernando and the starting time is 1.00pm. The theme for this historic Conference is “FITUN – many streams, one powerful river!”. Several guests have been invited to attend the Conference. The Feature Speaker is Dr. Aubrey Amstrong, noted Caribbean personality.
The Interim General Council of FITUN has been meeting regularly over the past several weeks in order to hammer out agreement on key documents which will be laid at the Conference.
Already approved by the Interim General Council is the Draft Constitution for FITUN. This document identifies FITUN’s role as a dynamic organisation that seeks to bring together all sections of the popular movement in collective activity. The Draft, although approved by the Interim General Council has to be debated and approved by the Inaugural Conference on the 4th.
Also finalized is the Draft Policy Declaration. This will spell out FITUN’s principled position on key policy issues and will guide all the work of the organization. It will be one of the key cornerstones for unity within the Federation as all member organisations are to adopt positions on issues consistent with the Policy Declaration. Matters as diverse as the energy sector, agriculture, youth, women, land tenancy, the environment, constitution reform, the relationship between Tobago and Trinidad, building communities, education, health care will be dealt with in the Policy Declaration.
A Draft Action Plan and the Draft Budget have also been approved by the General Council and will be debated at the Conference. With the Inaugural Conference the Interim Executive will give way to an Executive Committee which will have responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution.
Member organizations include:
Communication Workers’ Union
Estate Police Association
Fire Services Association (Second Division)
Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union
Prison Officers Association
Sugar Industry Staff Association
Tour Guides Association
CAFRA T&T
East Port of Spain Council of Community Organizations
National Land Tenants and Ratepayers Association
Network of NGOS for the Advancement of Women
Sou Sou Lands Co-operative
Trinidad Youth Council
Women Working for Social Progress
Bonne Aventure Farmers’ Association
Trinidad Island Wide Cane Farmers’ Association
Several other organizations are expected to finalise their membership in FITUN before the Inaugural Conference. Saturday 4th December 2004 will certainly be a historic day in the history of the mass movement in Trinidad and Tobago.