Under the joint sponsorship of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB), The Trade Union Congress (TUC) will be hosting an International Labour Conference (ILC) on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The event is slated for October 28 to November 1 at the Nassau Marriott Resort & Crystal Palace Casino.

The conference is intended to provide a better understanding of FTAA via knowledgeable experts both local and regional.

The following is a continuation of profiles on several of the speakers scheduled to speak during the conference.

Agatha Katrina marcelle

MP & Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Tourism

Agatha Katrina Marcelle, Progressive Liberal party Member of Parliament for the South Beach Constituency, was sworn in on Monday, July 29, 2002, as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.

She was elected to the House of Assembly in the May 2, 2002 general election that returned the PLP to Government.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Marcelle, a veteran human resource and quality consultant, facilitator, trainer, conference presenter, motivational speaker and lecturer, served as president and principal consultant of Transformation Strategies Associated & Corporate Wellness Centre.

Ms. Marcelle was born March 8, 1950 on Cat Island to Minerva Rolle and the late James Rolle.

She was educated at the Government High school in Nassau, obtaining General Certificate of Education passes at the ordinary and advanced levels.

She obtained a bachelor of arts degree in organizational sociology and public administration from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada in 1973, and completed post graduate studies in advance management at the University of Miami in 1986.

Ms. Marcelle is currently pursuing a masters of Theology degree at Zoe College, Jacksonville, Florida.

She is a former part-time lecturer at the College of The Bahamas, Bahamas Hotel Training College, Mayflower Management Institute, PriceWaterHouse, International Correspondence School and Bahamahost.

Ms. Marcelle worked as a professional employment consultant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and in The Bahamas as School Welfare Officer/Guidance Counsellor with the Ministry of Education; Industrial Relations Officer and Acting Deputy Director of Labour in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs; Industrial Relations and Training Officer, Freeport Hotels and Restaurant Employers Association; Director of Personnel and Training and Foreign Recruitment Co-ordinator, Resorts/Princess Casino, Freeport; and Director of Personnel and Training, Solomon Brothers.

Ms. Marcelle is a founding member and first Executive Director of The Bahamas Quality Council, an international certified quality examiner and founding member and first President of the Bahamas Human Resource Development Association.

She is a founding member/trustee of the 100 Day Challenge quality initiative, and a member of the American Society for Training and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Appeals Board, Career Path Unit, Ministry of Education; and the Advisory Board, Centre for Entrepreneurship, College of The Bahamas; and a Board Member and Secretary of Teen Challenge.

Ms. Marcelle is a former member of Zonta International and former member and past president of I.T.C. International.

She is the author of the book, "Hidden Gems of Quality and Excellence," and wrote a column, "Transformation Strategies, the ABCs," in The Nassau Guardian.

Her company, Transformation Strategies Associates and Corporate Wellness Centre, provides hands-on consulting, training and inspiration, focusing on business needs and individual competencies and attributes. Ms. Marcelle is the mother of one son.

Agatha Marcelle will be the luncheon speaker on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and will address the topic: "Tourism and Services In a Free Trade Zone."

Olivia Saunders

Olivia Saunders is currently employed with the College of The Bahamas as a Senior Lecturer teaching courses primarily in Economics, and Statistics.

She has professional experiences is in Commercial Banking, Trust Administration, International Banking Consultancies with international multilateral organisations Dean, Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies at the College of The Bahamas.

Her other activities include serving as President of Bahamas Vision 2020 Group and as Founding President of The Bahamas Economics Association (BEA).

She possesses a BSc. degree in Economics; a M.B.A., M.A. (Economics) Doctor Business Administration and a (DBA) in International Business

She is married with one child and enjoys tennis, reading non-fiction and gardening. Her major interest is in Economic Development. Her philosophy is take time to sharpen the axe and she is fully Bahamian.

Some of her publications include:(1988) - International Trade in The Bahamas; (1992)- International Trade in Services; (1993) - The Use of Statistics in the Educational Process; (1995)- Minimum Wage; (1995) -Tax Increases / Tax Revenue Increases; (1995)- Taxes!Taxes!Taxes!; (1995) - Unemployment in The Bahamas; (1998)- Cum-ta-ketch- a-stick-a-fire; (2000) - On being a consumer; (2001)- Poverty Eradication; (2002)- Host country characteristics and Foreign Direct Investment inflows.

ALGERNON SIDNEY PATRICK BENEDICT

ALLEN J.P. LLB

Algernon Allen (Hons-London), is the former Free National Movement Member of Parliament for the New Providence constituency of Marathon in the House of Assembly. During his fifteen (15) year tenure in government, Allen also served fruitfully and enthusiastically in The Cabinet as the Minister of Youth & Personal Development and Minister of Housing and Social Development.

He is also the former Leader of Government Business in Parliament. A staunch advocate of compassionate policies and initiatives, he was instrumental in implementing governmental procedures to: uplift the poor and marginalized; protect and provide for the youth "the Little Darlings" of the Nation; ensure the elderly (his "Precious Pearls") dignity and inclusion in their golden years and to end discrimination against persons with disabilities.

Algernon SPB Alien was born in Nassau, Bahamas on April 16, 1950. He is the last of eight children born to the late Harry R Allen and his wife Jestina (nee Johnson).

He received his secondary education at the Bahamas Government High School, in Nassau. Upon completion of his secondary education in 1969, he served as a legal trainee under Sir Gordon Byce, the Attorney General of the Bahamas. He later graduated from Kings College of the University of London with an Honours (LLB) degree.

He is a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and was called to both the English and the Bahamas Bar in 1973. In 1977 he established the law firm which became Allen, Allen & Co. of which he is an active partner.

Married to the former Anita Bethel, a Justice of the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, the man who has coined the phrase "the Little Darlings" is himself the proud father of seven children and a practicing Roman Catholic.

An ardent poet, he has been writing poetry since secondary school. He also enjoys reading, basketball, dominoes and playing whist.

As Minister of Youth He:

*Established in November of 1992 the One Bahamas Celebrations of national pride and bonding.

*Caused the formation of a blue ribbon committee to report on National Youth Development which became known as the "Gomez Report". This report has been relied on by non-governmental and governmental agencies to positively influence youth development in The Bahamas.

*Initiated "seed funding" to elite athletes which in no small measure contributed to a harvest of medals by our elite athletes at international events which culminated in the triumph of the Golden Girls at the 2000 Olympics in Sidney, Australia.

*Initiated "seed funding" for Junkanoo groups and was responsible for leading Junkanoo at the historic Smithsonian Festival in 1995 and 1996 in Washington, D.C., capital of the United States of America. He also established, after receipt of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in private funding, the Chris Blackwell Jankanoo Foundation.

*Expanded the Regattas to almost all major population centers of The Bahamas and in particular launched the Regattas at Freeport, Bimini and the now famous All Andros Regatta.

*Re-launched the National Arts Festival after a hiatus of ten years.

As Minister of Housing & Social Development He:

*Authorized and laid on the table of the House of Assembly the National Report on Disability and initiated in Housing specific allocation of homes for persons with disabilities. This report is the precursor to the "Prevention of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act" which Mr. Allen had undertaken to table and pass in Parliament before his abrupt dismissal from the Ingraham Cabinet after the controversial "Leader-elect Elections" of his Party in August of 2001.

*Commissioned and laid on the table of the House of Assembly the National Report on Older Persons under the distinguished patronage of Sir Clement Maynard and Lady Patricia Isaacs. This report formed the basis for several programmes and initiatives to benefit older persons, including an increase in the retirement age of some Civil Servants to age sixty-five (65) years.

*Sought after and received private funding of more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) to refurbish the then Boys and Girls Industrial Schools, build four new cottages and additional classrooms, and provide additional programmes to assist in their development. Later the schools were renamed, during Mr. Allen's tenure and at his initiative as Minister responsible, in honour of the late Coordinator of the Boys Brigade, Mr. Simpson C. Perm and in honour of the late Educator Mrs. Willie Mae Pratt.

*Launched a massive Housing programme which saw the New Birth of Housing Communities in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and San Salvador, and the Rebirth of Housing in distressed and marginalized communities in Grants Town, Bain Town, Anne's Town and Coconut Grove in New Providence.

Established a National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, with the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and also instituted a national telephone 24-hour "hot-line" for the report of cases of child abuse.

*Honoured the elderly "Our- Precious Pearls" in ceremonies at Government House during Precious Pearls Month in October.

* Caused to be built an inter-generational center at Emerald Gardens Subdivision in New Providence for the "little darlings" in day care and for the elderly and enlisted as managers the Seventh Day Adventist Church and named it after the Bahamian suffragette Mary Ingraham.

THE HON. PERRY GLADSTONE CHRISTIE

Prime Minister and MP for Farm Road

The Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie was sworn in as the third Prime Minister of an independent Bahamas May 3, 2002, following his Progressive Liberal Party's triumph over the Free National Movement in a general election a day earlier.

Official returns gave the former Opposition Leader's party 29 of the 40 House of Assembly seats that were at stake. The FNM, which had governed The Bahamas for nearly a decade under Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham, won seven seats.

Christie characterizes his party as "a PLP that will not only build new hospitals, schools, bridges and roads, but a PLP that will build up patriotism, pride, optimism and hope. These values must be brought to full flowering; otherwise, we labour in vain."

Victorious in the newly created Farm Road constituency in the general election, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition by the Governor-General on April 07, 1997. He had been elected leader of the PLP at a special convention on April 5. Mr. Christie thus succeeded the late Sir Lynden Pindling, M.P., who had led the PLP since 1956 as both Leader of the Opposition and leader of the party.

Christie, who was re-elected to the House of Assembly in the March 14, 1997, general election, defeated Dr. Bernard J. Nottage and Mr. Philip C. Galanis, both former M.P.s, in a poll for party leader.

Born in Nassau August 21, 1943, Christie is the eldest son of cab driver Gladstone L. Christie and Nurse Naomi Christie, both of whom are deceased. He attended the Eastern Senior School in New Providence, the University Tutorial College, London, Inner Temple and Birmingham University, from which he graduated with honours in 1969.

Christie, an attorney-at-law, is believed to have been the youngest Bahamian ever appointed to the Senate.

Named Senator by former Prime Minister, the late Sir Lynden Pindling in November, 1974, Christie served in that capacity until June, 1977. In January of the latter year, he was appointed chairman of the Gaming Board, which regulates casinos in The Bahamas.

Receiving the PLP's nomination for the Centreville constituency in the 1977 general election, Christie was elected Member of Parliament for that constituency, and shortly after appointed Minister of Health and National Insurance.

During the June, 1982, general election, he was re-elected Member of Parliament for Centreville, and was once again appointed to the Prime Minister's Cabinet, but as Minister of Tourism. A dynamic Minister, Christie moved tourism in The Bahamas to new heights.

In 1984, however, he was dismissed from the Cabinet, and during the 1997 general election, ran as an independent candidate. He retained his seat in the Centreville constituency.

Three years later - in March, 1990, Christie returned to the fold of the Progressive Liberal Party, and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Industry.

Christie's ministerial responsibilities included the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry; mining, geological surveys, petroleum, fuel, oils and petrochemicals, industries encouragement, manufacturing, relations with The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, relations with The Bahamas National Trust, Andros reef and blue holes, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Co-operatives.

In January, 1993, following the PLP's defeat in the August, 1992, general election, Christie was elected Co-deputy leader of the PLP with responsibility for party activities outside parliament.

He is a founding member of the Valley Boys, an organization noted for its entries in the annual Junkanoo parades, and of the Pioneers Sporting Club.

Christie's athletic skills developed as a member of the Pioneers, and led to his representing The Bahamas at the 1960 West Indies Federation Games in Kingston, Jamaica, and at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Kingston in 1962, when be won a bronze medal in the triple jump

An Anglican, Christie is married to the former Bernadette Joan Hanna, chartered accountant and attorney-at-law. They have two sons, Steffan and Adam, and a daughter, Alexandra.

Obie Ferguson.lr. Esq., M.Sc., 1I.Se., ULM. (lions.)

Counsel & Attorney-at-Law

Obie Ferguson is a graduate in Hotel Administration, Lindsey Hopkins School of Hotel and Motel Administration, Miami, Florida. He then moved to Miami Dade, where be obtained an Associate Degree in Hotel Administration.

At Florida International University, Ferguson did his Bachelor of Science Degree, with a specialty in Motel and Tourism Management, he later went on to complete a Master's Degree in Management, specialising in management at F.I.U.

On returning home, he joined the hospitality industry, then his first love, in a management capacity. He also became a lecturer in Hotel Accounting at the Hotel College of The Bahamas, as early as 1974, since he saw the need to share and impart his training among young Bahamians.

Ferguson always saw the need to challenge his growth and intellect. Consequently, the decision was again made to further his professional studies and he left The Bahamas in 1982 for the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England, he entered the University of Buckingham Law School, in the County of Buckingham where he pursued legal studies leading up to the L.L.B. degree, with emphasis on Labour and Administrative Law and Commercial Law.

Ferguson, while in London, worked with a leading law, firm. His association with the management and leadership roll goes back as early as 1973, when he was elected President of the Florida International University student body, the first Bahamian to receive this elected post.

Ferguson spearheaded the formation of the University's International Student Association, and shortly after returning to The Bahamas from the United States, continued his tradition as a self-starter.

He saw the need for participation by nationals in the management and development of the nation's number one industry, hence The Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association in 1974 was born - an association which today services the needs and redresses the imbalances within the hospitality industry.

Ferguson studied Economic Theories, International Economics, Labour Relations, International Aspects of Health and Safety at Ciprioni Labour College, St. Augustine, Trinidad in October, 1989. A former member of The Bahamas Tourism Advisory Committee, former Secretary-General of the National Workers Council of Trade Unions, and Associations, he also served as Chairman of the Arbitration Tribunal.

He served as a member of the industrial Relations Board 1992-94; acts as advisor to many Unions; and he is the President of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress.

In addition to the above, Ferguson is Co-Chairman of the One Bahamas National Committee, and also is a member of the Joint Advisory Committee on Labour.

Ferguson is a member of the Bahamian Bar, and specialises in Employment Law.

In October , 1994, he was specially invited to participate in the Caribbean Sub-Regional Tripartite Seminar on recent trends in employment equality issues for Labour Courts and Tribunals, attended by Judges and Industrial Court and Tribunal Chairmen.