Appointment of the Registration Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB)

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Friday  31 May 2019

Senator the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development presented letters of appointment to the Chairman, Mr. Gregory Baker and to Members of the Registration Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB) at the Ministry’s Head Office on Friday 31 May 2019. This Committee is responsible for matters relating to the certification of trade unions as recognized majority unions in accordance with Part II, Section 21 (1) of the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 88:01 (IRA).

Minister Baptiste Primus expressed her appreciation to all the Members who agreed to serve and conveyed her gratitude to the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes for carefully selecting a Chairman who will diligently guide and steer the Board. Minister implored the Board to review the systems to deal with pending applications and ensure that this application process is completed within a six (6) month period as outlined in the amendments to the IRA that are before Cabinet. Minister also asked for urgency and attention surrounding the number of petitions dealt with by the Board and to submit annual reports of the work of the Board for her consideration. Additionally, the Minister underscored the critical role of the Board to promote the integrity and credibility under the Industrial Relations Act. Minister also urged the Board to find creative ways to improve the system and processes and undertake the role to mitigate and improve the efficiency of the Board for the next three years.

The work of the Board also facilitates workers’ right to freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining by joining a trade union of their choice. This Board is also charged with the responsibility to determine whether a person is a worker within the meaning of the IRA and whether or not a person is a member in good standing of a trade union.

The newly installed Members of the Registration Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB) received their instruments of appointment from Senator Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development at the Ministry’s Head Office on Friday, May 31, 2019.

For further information, please contact the Corporate Communications Unit:

Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1211, 1208, 1203 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Caption:-

Front Row: Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Senator the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus (centre) is joined by the newly installed Members of the Registration Recognition and Certification Board; from left: Ms. Anushka Alcazar,  Ms. Natalie Willis (Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development); Mr. Gregory Baker (Chairman), Ms. Giselle Estrada

Back Row (from left): Messrs. Ian Daniel, Keston Nancoo, Darren Samuel, Gregory Marchan, Charles Martin de Gannes, Edward W. Duggins, Christopher Streete, Ian Ashman, Bryan St. Louis, Carl Seymour