Head of the Bermuda Public Service Association, Leleath Bailey, has made history.

Ms Bailey was elected as the "Titular Member'' of the World Committee of Women of the Public Services International at the 26th PSI World Congress in Japan last month.

She was nominated by the Caribbean Public Service Association after some 15 years of representing the BPSA.

The appointment made Ms Bailey the first Bermudian and BPSA member to receive such an honour. And it means that she will represent Caribbean and Latin American women during the next five years until the next Congress is held.

Ms Bailey said it was an honour to serve her country at the Congress and she would never forget the experience. She added that she was looking forward to fulfilling her new role.

During the Congress sessions, Ms Bailey -- who was personally greeted by the PSI president William (Bill) Lucy -- gave a speech on a theme paper entitled "The Environment at Work and Water''.

A special session was also set aside for women's affairs at the Congress which attracted 300 female delegates, an increase from the 150 who attended the last Congress in Helsinki.

During the women's affairs session "Resolution No. 14 -- Affirmative Action for Women'' was adopted.

The Resolution recommends that the PSI executive committee should monitor progress made toward this target, encourage affiliates to produce action plans, and circulate examples of best practice.

It also focuses on the PSI survey on equal opportunities related to affirmative action policies and under representation of women in senior positions in union organisations and the adoption of Resolutions 69 and 70 on the increased participation of women with PSI on affirmative action.

Recognising that the PSI should lead by example in encouraging women's participation in its decision making processes, affiliates were urged to make progress toward achieving the target of 50 percent women as titular members of PSI regional advisor committees and on the executive committee of the PSI.

Ms Bailey pointed out that the BPSA already had affirmative action in its collective agreement. But she said the Association pledged its support to other unions in achieving this goal.

She added that there were large delegations of women from Africa, Asia, India, Japan and other countries who were still struggling for affirmative action.

HISTORICAL MOMENT -- Bermuda Public Service Association president Leleath Bailey recently became the first Bermudian and BPSA member to the Public Service International's World Committee for Women.

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