Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert has defended the ability of former president Derrick Burgess to be fair to employers in his new role as Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.

Speaking out during yesterday?s Labour Day celebrations at Bernard?s Park in Pembroke, Mr. Furbert hit out at an editorial in the Saturday edition of this newspaper in which editor Bill Zuill commented: ?Mr. Burgess will have to work hard to show that he can be fair to both unions and employers.?

Appearing to take exception to concerns about the appointment of a union man to the key cabinet job during Friday?s Cabinet shuffle, Mr. Furbert said: ?Think about that statement. Prior to (the PLP election win in) ?98 it was not going to be a huge challenge to do a hard job. Now we have a labour minister from labour, all of a sudden it becomes a hard job. Someone explain that to me? My word, it comes naturally for a trade union official to be fair. It?s what we do naturally.?

Mr. Furbert had followed on from Premier Alex Scott, Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert, and the new Minister of Labour in addressing the rain-sodden event ? the culmination of the traditional annual march of union members through Hamilton.

Mr. Scott took the opportunity to jokingly rebuke new Minister Mr. Burgess, who took over from Randy Horton as Minister of Labour.

?It never rained when Horton was Minister. Burgess has lost one already.

?I asked Burgess to negotiate a shorter (parade route). Brother Chris said no. Burgess has lost two already!? quipped the Premier.

On the subject of his recent re-shuffles, he said Mr. Burgess? job made him responsible for all people in Bermuda and that his expertise must be recognised.

?I urge you to join hands with the Government and the new Labour Minister, and that next time before you call a strike, or a work stoppage or a sit in, call our brother Minister Burgess ? the Minister who is able to speak your language, hear your concerns and work with you,? he told the assembled union members.

He also spoke of the importance of change ? and apprised the audience of what he saw as the key developments since the PLP took power. His list included ?one man one vote?, the Employment Act, the introduction of an Ombudsman, the concept of the Social Agenda, and the Bermuda Independence Commission report.

Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert said that the labour movement had been a force for positive change. But he asked those gathered what their forefathers and mothers would think about the current state of the Island.

?Yes, they would say we have gained many material blessings. But I believe that they would also say we are losing the very soul of Bermuda,? he said.

Listing concerns about fear of crime, guns and drugs, he continued: ?We did not fight so that Bermudians may have favourable conditions of employment, only to have so many failing to seize available opportunities. We did not fight hard for a united people, only to witness an increasingly divided Bermuda.?

He outlined his hope for each person on the Island to recognise their own self worth and work together for a better future.

?Label me an extreme optimist if you wish, but at the end of the day I only desire that people would open their minds and become more respectful of the views of others. It?s about listening. It?s about being more considerate, ultimately it?s about respect for each other,? he said.

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Derrick Burgess said his former role as President of the BIU had helped him prepare for his new ministerial role, and pledged to carry this out with integrity and fairness.

Reflecting that it was a challenging post, he quoted the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about making tough decisions when they are right.

?There will be times I have to make decisions that are unpopular, even un-politic to some. I must remember Dr. King, and ensure it?s always the right decision,? he said.