Grenada: Legal Affair Ministry announces appointing of Valerie Thomas as Labour Commissioner

Grenada: The Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs Ministry announces the appointment of Valerie Thomas as Labour Commissioner, informed the GIS of Grenada. Thomas is the first woman to serve as Labour Commissioner in Grenada and brings a wealth of knowledge as well as experience to the position, having worked extensively in the field of Labour Relations.

A graduate of the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies, Thomas specialised in Labour Studies with an emphasis on Negotiations, Labour Administration, Labour Dispute Management and Tripartite Dialogue.

Her professional career includes employment with one of the largest trade unions in Trinidad and Tobago and highlights a sterling record of success before the Industrial Courts. Thomas also has experience in the Grenada Public Service, having worked for over seventeen (17) years in General Administration and Human Resource Development.

In her capacity as Labour Commissioner, Thomas will drive the Ministry’s transformative labour agenda and give dedicated focus to:

• Finalising the Review of the Labour Code
• Strengthening Case Management
• Advancing the Occupational Safety and Health Agenda
• Building Decent Work and Disability in the Workplace Regulatory Regime
• Strengthening Dispute Resolution to ensure justice and improve compliance
• Enhancing Workplace Productivity

Minister for Labour Claudette Joseph welcomed Thomas to the Ministry and presented her with the mandate to address outstanding labour dispute matters, engage key labour partners and advance the priorities of the labour sector.

“Thomas brings a rich mix of labour administration and industrial relations experience and expertise to the position,” Minister Joseph said. “We are confident that she will complete her duties to the highest standard, and we look ahead to her contributions in advancing the Department of Labour and its work programme and the wider transformative agenda of Government.”

Thomas is a proud daughter of the soil, hailing from the Grand Bras, St Andrew community. She is committed to the development of Grenada and is passionate about improving the labour management function for the mutual benefit of workers and employers.

Her appointment as Labour Commissioner took effect yesterday, November 3, 2022.

The Government of Grenada thanks her predecessors, Cyrus Griffith, who served for more than 20 years as Labour Commissioner, and Reginald Lord, who led the transitioning of the Labour Department over the last three (3) months as Labour Commissioner.

Lord is wished the best as he proceeds to his retirement, having served the Government and people of Grenada with distinction over thirty-two years of dedicated and selfless service in the field of Labour Management.