aboard, will take part in this year's Labour day festivities.

Rev. Wilbur Lowe will speak later this evening at Southampton Princess Hotel at the Bermuda Industrial Union's 16th Annual Labour Day Banquet which will start at 7 p.m. Rev. Lowe will be speaking on family and the importance of the family structure.

During a Press conference at BIU headquarters yesterday, Rev. Lowe said when the family falls apart the community falls apart. And he stressed that it was the backbone of society.

Likening Bermuda to a Bible verse, he said the Island was dealing with a generation of youth who do not know God and who were not taught the same values as generations in the past have been taught.

Rev. Lowe, who spent the last ten years as a pastor at an A.M.E. church in Dayton, Ohio then spent five months in Pittsburgh before coming home to Bermuda, will also preach a "powerful sermon'' at St. Paul's A.M.E. Church on Sunday. The subject will be "Don't stoop when you need to stand''.

And he said he will bring a special message to the youth of the Island on Monday.

Stressing that the youth were the Island's most basic resource, Rev. Lowe said without a firm foundation beneath them the Island was in trouble.

He added that he noticed in Bermuda, like the US, crime was rampant.

Rev. Lowe said the incident with a man and woman accused of attempting to murder an infant baby was a "terrible indictment on the family in Bermuda''.

Those interested in hearing the minister's address at the BIU banquet tonight can purchase tickets for $45 at the BIU headquarters.

The BIU will begin Monday's Labour Day activities at 8.45 a.m. with the annual walk, starting from the union's headquarters.

This will be followed by a road race and a March from Union Square to Bernard's Park.

After all the walking and running there will be speeches and entertainment which will start at 12.30 p.m.

BIU will also hold a soccer tournament, with qualifying games being held today. Semi-finals and finals will be held on Monday.

BIU president Derrick Burgess urged all union members of every union on the Island to come out and support the March.

He added that he was happy to learn that the Bermuda Union of Teachers planned to attend Monday's Labour Day rally.