Public workers in Grenada have elected a new person to head the island’s largest public sector bargaining body, the Public Workers Union (PWU).
Former Customs officer Brian Grimes defeated the incumbent President, Rachel Roberts by 35 votes in election held Tuesday among the estimated 5000 public sector employees in the country.
A total of 1039 persons voted in the 3-way fight for the Presidency with the other contender being Arthur Pierre.
The Grimes slate reportedly swept the poll with virtually all of his supporting candidates emerging victorious.
Sources told THE NEW TODAY that Roberts who was seeking her third term as PWU boss virtually lost the election to Grimes who made significant inroads in her stronghold areas within the Ministry of Health and the state-run National Water & Sewerage Authority (NAWASA).
Roberts had defeated the challenge of Grimes in the last election held two years ago.
Grimes is taking over the PWU leadership at a time when the union is engaged with two other public sector unions – the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) and the Technical & Allied Workers Union (TAWU) in a battle with the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government on its failure to honour an agreement to pay a 4 % increase in salaries to public officers from the end of January.
Returning Officer for the elections, former PWU President Adrian Francis is still to make the results available.
However, following are the preliminary results from the PWU election:
President
Rachel Roberts 366
Brian Grimes 401
Arthur Pierre 272
1st Vice-President
Fimbar Thomas 507
Godwin Coy 490
2nd Vice President
Nugent Bernard 403
Beryl-Ann Clarkson 591
Treasurer
Paula Phillip 522
Keron Penny 474
Secretary
Carvel Lett 547
Hermione Marryshow 464
Public Relations Officer
Daisy Hazzard 602
Deanna Isaac 416