Tweet

 

 

 

Basseterre, St.Kitts (November 18th 2016) :- Senator Hon. Akila Byron-Nisbet will today take the oath of Office as a new Member of the St.Kitts-Nevis Federal Parliament. The IT Professional who was announced as the newest Senator of the Team UNITY Administration will also be nominated and likely elected as the New Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

The 35 year Old Mother of three and the Niece of St.Kitts-Nevis Ambassador to the UN HE Sam Condor and Former Senator of the National Assembly Jean Byron-Condor Nisbett-Byron said that with her new role she could be a voice for women and young people.

“As I go on, I know that I will be standing tall as a woman in Parliament and as such I represent a great cross-section of the individuals who perform such great roles and who statistically are the ones always out in front taking the lead and I vow today to do my part in Parliament to ensure that a woman’s voice is heard, but not only women, but young people’s voice is also heard, and also to be able to bring some gender balance within Parliament. With such an honour and privilege, I just want to say thank you to everyone and I definitely look forward to my seat in Parliament,” she said.

Senator Byron-Nisbett’s elevation as deputy speaker follows on the heels of Senator Michael Perkins, who was elevated to Speaker of the National Assembly from the deputy speaker position after Speaker Franklyn Brand’s resignation was declared in May of this year due to his ill health.

Former government minister Dwyer Astaphan has expressed  confidence in Byron-Nisbett’s ability to function as a senator and  deputy speaker.

Astaphan said “I know Mrs Byron-Nisbett quite well, in fact I think that when she left the CFBC here, her first job was in the Ministry of Tourism when I was the Minister. I’ve known her for most of her life and she was a joy to work with and an outstanding young woman and I anticipate that when she goes into that parliament she will bring some much needed improvement to the standard of decorum and debate and the content of the business transacted in that place. When she takes the chair she will oversee the proceedings in a firm, fear and orderly manner. She has the opportunity and I dare say the responsibility to show them what a good, well-intentioned, strong lady can do.”

Mrs. Byron-Nisbett was appointed Senator in the National Assembly by the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton, on October 26, 2016, at a ceremony at Government House in the presence of Prime Minister Harris, other government ministers and officials, and family and friends.