Veteran trade unionist Cecil Paul, a former First Vice President of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), died on Tuesday following a short illness.
Paul, who was also a former General Secretary of the Council of Progressive Trade Unions and committee member of the National Workers Union, was a prominent figure in the trade union movement for several decades.
He played a key role in efforts to unite the country’s trade unions under the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), becoming its first Deputy General Secretary.
Paul also served as Administrative Secretary of the Summit of People’s Organisations, which brought together trade union and community leaders, including representatives of religious organisations, to develop a united response to the economic policies of the NAR government.
As the labour representative on the Prices Commission, Paul campaigned against proposed increases in the prices of basic food items, including flour, rice and cheese.
During the mid-1980s, he led the labour delegation in tripartite discussions at the Ministry of Labour on amendments to the Industrial Relations Act.
He also served as the labour representative on the National Joint Consultative Council, which was established to develop improvements to labour legislation.
Paul was a founding member of the United Labour Front and served as an executive member of the Committee for Labour Solidarity.
Outside of the trade union movement, Paul was a strong supporter of the Pamberi Steel Orchestra from its inception. He assisted the band in sourcing funding and fundraising contacts and was a member of Friends of Pamberi, alongside Ewart Williams, Roy Augustus and Hollick Rajkumar.
Paul’s death has been described as a loss to the labour movement, with colleagues remembering his longstanding commitment to workers’ rights and trade union solidarity.
He died on August 18, 2026.
