Two Pembrokeshire Councillors have spoken in Tenby to highlight the ‘Anti-Racist Action Plan’ adopted by the Local Authority, with one telling town councillors that he himself had been bullied while at school in Tenby - and that the initiative was not just about the colour of a person’s skin but also culture, diversity, and ethnicity.

Councillors Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner and Dani Thomas-Turner, of Haverfordwest Town Council, recently addressed Tenby Town Council on the ‘Anti-Racist Action Plan’ adopted by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner explained that the Action Plan was passed by PCC back in May; with Wales planning to be first country in the world to be ‘anti-racist’ by 2030.

He had been working with Prof Uzo Iwobi of Race Council Cymru to come up with 9 key points on the Action Plan, and the task now was to implement it.

The first phase was to visit all the town councils to ask if they would consider adopting the Action Plan. Haverfordwest had been the first and Pembroke Dock had also recently agreed.

Once all the county’s town councils had been visited, the intent was to visit all 63 community councils in 2025.

Sadly, there was racism here in Pembrokeshire, stated Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner; as he himself had been bullied while attending school in Tenby.

However, he stated that it was not just about the colour of a person’s skin but also culture, diversity, and ethnicity, including our traveller community.

As part of the presentation Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner (who is a councillor for Haverfordwest’s Castle-Ward) handed members the motion agreed by Haverfordwest Town Council, which had seven key points that it was felt were achievable and they had set aside £1,200 per annum for public engagement.

However, he said that TTC has the freedom to decide which points they feel are achievable and how to finance it.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner further explained that PCC had set up a committee to deliver the Action Plan and he had been appointed as a non-voting member to advise as to what is going on; and was looking for a representative from each town to liaise with him.

“Once we have got this off the ground, we will be looking for communication,” he said.

“Education is better than demonstration. We need to establish the best way forward and how we do this; how to engage with our communities.”

“Children learn from early age,” explained Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner.

“No-one is born racist; children follow the lead of adults. Our hope is that in the future children will be able to go home and challenge what adults say and tell them that it is not acceptable,” she added, explaining that there were plans to go into schools with this message.

“Our Community Engagement Officer would be excited with this project as she has already staged a number of events that highlight other cultures and ethnicities,” commented Cllr. Laurence Blackhall.

Members of TTC agreed the motion be tabled on the agenda for the next Full Council meeting.