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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 19, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Shawn Richards, said he has witnessed firsthand the love and compassion Senator the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett has for the residents of Constituency Three.

 

Speaking at the Team Unity Government’s People’s Forum town hall meeting at the St. Johnston Community Centre on Tuesday (March 13), Deputy Prime Minister Richards said Senator Byron has, on several occasions, reached out to him as Minister responsible for Education, Sports, Youth and Culture to have matters concerning the welfare of the residents of West Basseterre addressed.

 

“The Boyd’s Play Field, I have never heard anything about it from the current representative – not a single question as to what is happening at that play field. The McKnight Daycare Centre, not a thing about that; Dr. William [Connor] Primary School, nothing about it; Patsy Allers Play Field, nothing about it. He never, ever came to ask a question as to what is being done by Education, Youth, Sport or Culture to help the people in West Basseterre. When I get questions about West Basseterre, I get them from Senator Byron,” Minister Richards said, while adding, “You the people of West Basseterre, you must make a decision next time to elect someone who genuinely cares about you.”

 

Minister Richards’ views on character of Senator Byron-Nisbett were shared by other members of the audience, including Mr. Elvis “Jam Down” Manners.

 

“I think the young ladies in this country and this constituency should really try to work with such a woman as an elected minister in this country,” Mr. Manners said to loud cheers from members of the audience. “I have been following for a long time in the mock Parliament and she has a lot of qualities and I am asking women in this constituency, and young people to give her a chance; let us see what this young lady has to offer.”

 

Mr. Manners, who noted that he was victimized under the Denzil Douglas Administration, said the electorate is “looking for people like Akilah to take us to the [next] level” when seasoned politicians such as Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and the Honourable Shawn Richards are ready to pass the baton.

 

According to Minister Richards, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party MP for Constituency Three has proved that he is unprepared and unfit to properly represent the interests of the people of his constituency, pointing to the separate occasions where Mr. Maynard was suspended from the National Assembly for his dishonourable, disrespectful and antagonistic approach to the Speaker of the House, the Honourable A. Michael Perkins.

 

“You need a representative, who, regardless of the circumstances, will stay in Parliament and represent you,” Minister Richards said.