Dozens of union officials and workers have arrived in Bermuda for the 37th annual conference of the Caribbean Public Services Association.

In an opening ceremony last night, Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess and Bermuda Public Services Union leader Ed Ball were among the speakers to cite the importance of workers’ unions.

Mr. Burgess, a former Bermuda Industrial Union president, told an audience of about 100 people at Berkeley Institute: “The Government of Bermuda deeply values and respects local trade unions and therefore joins the governments of countries in the Caribbean in congratulating the CPSA for its commitment to improving workers’ lives.”

Mr. Ball said the goal of the week-long conference was for union bosses to exchange information to improve working conditions across the board.

Premier Ewart Brown made a brief welcoming speech to the crowd, which also included Deputy Premier Paula Cox, former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield and Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley. During the ceremony, representatives from each country — including the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Jamaica — introduced themselves to the rest of the audience.

In a good-humoured session, highlights included an apparent pledge by the 26-strong Barbados delegation to enjoy Bermuda’s pink beaches and drink the bars dry.

“We are going to explore the many beverages that Bermuda is known for,” said the Barbadian representative.