Welcome Remarks delivered by
Her Honour Mrs. Deborah Thomas-Felix
President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago
at the
Meet with the Court Symposium 7
The Labour Market and Industrial Relations Post COVID-19
I adopt the protocols of the Master of Ceremonies Senator Dr. Paul Richards.
I formally welcome each of you to the Meet with the Court Symposium.
While I was preparing for today’s symposium, I went on a short journey of nostalgia. If you would indulge me for a few minutes I will share my thoughts with you.
Reflections
When I conceptualized the symposium in 2013, the staff and I had several meetings planning the event. The night before the event, we were in this very hall after 2 in the morning, putting everything together for the next day; and we planned everything down to the very colour. The following year, the same thing happened, however, after the second year, I did not have to be there late in the night. In fact, I will pop in about 11 to show support and the staff will have had everything arranged.
Now in 2023, while I would still pop in the night of each event. The staff has been able to do all the logistics behind the scene.
I got nostalgic when on Thursday this week, which was a holiday, some members of staff, despite me trying to dissuade them, insisted on coming to work to plan for this event so I had no choice but to join them. We worked until very late Thursday night and I do want to say that the staff at the Industrial Court, apart from being very friendly and approachable, they don’t take “ah mental day”, “hard wuk, no mental day”. I want to share publicly that We have one of the most industrious body of staff in the public service and I deeply appreciate all their efforts to make this important event and I want to publicly thank them for all the hard work they have done behind the scene. To the members of staff that are here, on behalf of the Judges of the Court, I want to say thank you.