country...but Monday's Labour Day celebrations involve more than just Bermuda's largest union of some 4,500 members.

So says BIU vice president Chris Furbert, who also serves of chairman of the Joint Labour Day Organising Committee, a committee involving members from other unions on the Island. They come together every year with the common aim of recognising the contribution that labour has made to this country.

"We constantly hear that the BIU traditionally plans Labour Day and that's a lot of nonsense,'' said Mr. Furbert this week as his committee put the finishing touches to this year's 19th anniversary celebrations.

The weekend begins with the BIU Labour Day Banquet on Saturday night at the Southampton Princess when Mayor of Washington DC, Anthony Williams, will be the guest speaker. Mr. Williams will also be the guest speaker on Monday at Bernard Park.

"One of the biggest misconceptions about Labour Day is that it is the BIU,'' said Furbert who has served as chairman of the organising committee since 1996 when he replaced former BIU president Ottiwell Simmons.

"We invited all the trade unions out there to send representatives to sit on the Labour Day committee. We send the invitation out to the general public for anybody who would like to be involved in the planning of Labour Day. They can feel free to put their name forward and play an active role in organising Labour Day.

"Right now it's made up of the BPSA (Bermuda Public service Association), BUT (Bermuda Union of Teachers), and a representative from the PLP. The other unions are invited and get an official letter every year without fail. In addition to that they also get a phone call asking them to send a rep because we're starting to plan the events for Labour Day.'' Mr. Furbert explained that planning for the Labour Day activities starts every March with a series of meetings involving the various committees.

"The committee will have a number of scheduled meetings leading up to Labour Day to plan the weekend of activities,'' explained the chairman.

"The closer it gets to Labour Day we step the meetings up, particularly the last six to eight weeks prior to Labour Day when we meet every Friday.

"We talk with the various committees, the entertainment committee, publicity committee, raffle committee, stalls committee, just to make sure everybody has all their ducks in a row.'' Swan's Running Club also play an active part in the planning as, for the past 16 years, they have been organising the Labour Day race which traditionally starts the new road running season.

"In the past three or four years the race has become more and more popular,'' says Mr. Furbert proudly.

"Before they closed, Co-op used to sponsor the race but now for the past four years Footstop Shoe Store is the sponsor. We've put a challenge out there for people to break the record.'' There is also a five-mile walk starting at 8 a.m., followed by the road race at 9 a.m., both starting at TCD and finishing outside the BIU building. After the awards presentation for both the walkers and runners at about 10 a.m., the march will begin at approximately 11.30 from Union Square to Bernard Park where the day long festivities, including speeches and entertainment, will go on until about 9 p.m.

The raffle draw will be made at 8 p.m. and includes travel vouchers ranging in value from $500 to $1500, a computer system and other prizes.

The entertainment will include the Dennis Moniz Trio, Coca Cola Steel Band, Dennis Fox Trio, George Simons Trio, Hubert Smith, Gina Spence, Patricia Pogson and a karate demonstration by Skipper Ingham's school, as well as entertainment by Spanish Town.

After Saturday's night's banquet there will be a worship service at the Church of God on North Shore Road on Sunday at 11 a.m.