Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union (ABWU) Deputy General Secretary and Senator Chester Hughes has graduated from Arden University in the United Kingdom, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) with Upper Second-Class Honours.
According to Antigua News Room, the ABWU announced Hughes' graduation this week, describing it as a milestone in his academic and professional development.
Hughes has been clear about his motivation for pursuing the qualification. "This degree is intended to elevate my capacity as a trade unionist in Antigua and Barbuda, particularly as the landscape of industrial relations evolves. With an increasing number of lawyers representing companies in labor matters, unions must adapt to these changing times to effectively advocate for their members," he said.
Hughes completed the programme while working full-time at the ABWU, balancing his professional duties with early morning classes and late-night study sessions. Because the programme is grounded in the United Kingdom's legal system, he devoted considerable time to additional research in order to master the curriculum.
He now plans to travel to the United Kingdom to complete bar training before returning to the Caribbean to undertake the conversion process required for admission to the bar in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Beyond his own career, Hughes has expressed hope that his academic journey will inspire fellow trade unionists to invest in their professional development through education, with the broader goal of better serving working people across the region.
