ST. GEORGE’S Grenada: A memorable funeral service is being planned for the late Dereck Allard, president of the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) and a stalwart in the GTUC movement, who passed away in Trinidad on Saturday, August 20, at the age of 52. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 30, at the Grenada Trades Centre. The day's proceedings will commence at 10am with the viewing of Dereck’s body, this will then be followed by a special ceremony to pay tribute to the labour activist, and then the church service at 2pm. Mr. Allard has been described as one of the union leaders who gave the last 25 years of his life to fighting for the cause of Grenadian workers, seeking better wages and working conditions for workers and their families. Dereck Allard graduated from the Grenada Boys Secondary School and went into the labour movement as an ordinary worker, as a shop steward at the then Grenada Beach Hotel, where he was employed as a pastry chef. President of the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) and close friend to Mr. Allard, Chester Humphrey says that the members of TAWU are deeply moved by Mr. Allard’s passing. Dereck Allard was employed full time with the Bank and General Workers Union, where he did organizational work for the hotel sector. TAWU’s President says Mr. Allard’s work in the Trade’s Union Movement was not confined only to Grenada but he rapidly rose to become a regional Trade’s Union figure. Dereck Allard served on the executive of the Caribbean Congress of Labour for the past 15 consecutive years. He was also certified in industrial relations internationally and received several diplomas and Certificates in Labour relations from the University of Turin. Mr. Allard was also a specialist in occupation, health and safety and was well known in the Canadian Labour Circles. His family can feel justly proud that he has left in the footprints of Grenada’s history an unforgettable legacy. In a condolence statement made by the Opposition National Democratic Congress it was said that Mr. Allard displayed remarkable courage, determination and selflessness, taking up every issue however small, affecting the members of his union. As President of the TUC he demonstrated maturity, a sense of balance and good judgment, always weighing the needs and circumstances of his membership against the objective limitations of the business community and the country as a whole. Dereck Allard’s contributions to the movement will forever be remembered. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com