AFTER 21 YEARS as the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) boss, Sir Roy Trotman is preparing to step down and could announce exactly when next weekend.
And he has assured that there is a succession plan in place and clear options for his replacement.
At a Press conference on Friday, ahead of the BWU’s annual delegates’ conference which will be held over the next two Saturdays at Solidarity House, Sir Roy said the time for new leadership was drawing near.
“I have reached the stage where I think that if you have groomed people to take over, you can’t remain in the position that you’ve prepared them for because you have to get people when they’re still sharp and ready.
“So you won’t have to ask me that question too many more times. I will announce it well in advance. I may announce it during this conference,” he said when asked when he planned to step down.
“If it had been left to me I would have ridden off in the sunset. I have a number of books I want to write and I want to be able to settle down and write those books,” the 69-year-old trade unionist added, pointing out that he had submitted his retirement plan to the executive council of the union when he turned 65 but stayed on at the union’s request.
However, he said on Friday that “a couple of people” had been identified as possible successors.
“One of them found something much better in the business community and we can’t kill people who go for their own
self-improvement,” Sir Roy said, in clear reference to Julian Hunte who became Goddard Enterprises Limited’s group human resources manager in February, exactly a year after being appointed deputy general secretary – director of industrial relations, at the BWU, positions previously held by new Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Robert “Bobby” Morris. (DP)
