Democrat politicized British American operations, says Liburd

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 2RD 2009 (CUOPM) – Politicization of British American operations by the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), began five years before the collapse of the institution, former speaker of the National Assembly, attorney Marcella Liburd said Sunday.
 
Ms. Liburd read excerpts of the opposition owned Democrat newspaper which praised the General Manager of British American Mr. Eugene Hamilton which linked his “successes” to his  ability as a suitable candidate for the PAM for St. Christopher 8 (St. Peter's to Cayon).
 
“The Democrat (mouthpiece of the PAM), heartily congratulates Mr. Hamilton on his successes in British American. The people of Cayon, Keys and St. Peter’s can be reassured that they have a true winner seeking to represent them and they can feel confident that Mr. Hamilton will aim at being an exceptional representative for them. He has a track record of selling,” she quoted from an issue of the Democrat in 2004.
 
“See who have introduced politics in the operations of British American, because he had won awards for the investment by the people. Here is the Democrat talking about the people of Cayon, Keys and St. Peter’s. What did those areas have to do with British American?” asked Ms. Liburd.
 
She referred to another article in the Democrat earlier this year when Mr. Hamilton was appointed a Director on the British American International Board which warranted a STOP PRESS in its weekly paper.
 
‘Eugene Hamilton, Manager of British American Insurance Company and candidate for Constituency #8 was elected on the Board of British American International Company on April 23rd 2009. The company is facing the same problem that is affecting businesses all over the world and faced with these challenges, one of the persons to whom they have turned is Kittitian Eugene Hamilton,’ screamed the Democrat.
 
Liburd read a later edition of the Democrat headlined “PAM Shadow Minister scares Labour” which announced that Social Security was among Mr. Hamilton’s portfolio.
 
‘M. Hamilton’s knowledge and expertise led him to be recently appointed to the International Board of British American,’ she quoted from The Democrat.
 
“It is this year they are talking about and that his appointment was scaring the daylights out of Labour. But it is the whole country that he has scared, because the people cannot get their money from Mr. Hamilton, the General Manager of British American. It is the whole country that is now scared because lots of them are afraid of what will happen to their contributions to Social security if Mr. Hamilton becomes Minister of Social Security in a PAM Government,” said Ms. Liburd.
 
She denied that it was the Labour Party that introduced politics in the British American matter.
 
“The Democrat proclaimed that it was as a result of Mr. Hamilton’s knowledge and expertise that was responsible for British American’s success. Now that people cannot get their money the same Democrat and the People’s Action Movement are saying it is not Eugene Hamilton. When the successes were announced it was Eugene Hamilton, now that the company has collapsed and people cannot get their money, it is everybody,” said Ms. Liburd.
 
“It is Eugene Hamilton the monies were paid to,” said Ms. Liburd.
 
She likened the situation to purchasing a vehicle from TDC and when something goes wrong TDC takes responsibility. “TDC do not send you to Japan. In the case of British American Insurance Company, it is Eugene Hamilton that you have to go to,” said Ms. Liburd.