BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH her party fielding two female candidates for the upcoming General Elections, the People’s Labour Party (PLP) Akilah Byron-Nisbett is batting for women’s development in St. Kitts and Nevis.
On Friday, August 5, there will be six women contesting for seats in the Federation, both on St. Kitts and on Nevis, and that will definitely highlight the continued progress of women stepping up to the plate.
The crucial role women play in the Federation was front and center of the incumbent Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Three speech at last evening’s (Jul. 24) political rally in Halfway Tree.
When the discussion on a secure future was made by the PLP, Byron-Nisbett noted that it includes women., suggesting that the Federation could not achieve its fullest potential without the support of the fairer sex.
“And I am so proud to be part of this People’s Labour Party. A party that understands this, that we need our women. I am proud to be part of a party with our leader, our Prime Minister, who understands the importance of women and supports our women” she emphasised.
The PLP is fielding two female candidates for the upcoming General Elections, with Jacquline Bryan in Constituency One and Byron-Nisbett in Constituency Three.
The incumbent highlighted the need to show more young girls and women that if there were a desire to get involved in public service, “then running for elected office is a genuine option for them to do so”.
Getting more women involved in elected politics has been a challenge in the Federation for a number of years, and many have called for that to change.
“PLP is the only party that has an agenda that supports our women,” Byron-Nisbett opined.
Describing women as the backbone of society, the outspoken incumbent representative reminded that there are a number of single mothers who are the head of households across the Federation who need assistance. To this end, she reiterated that a PLP government, after August 5th, would increase the Poverty Alleviation Programme.
All political parties have targeted social programmes as one of their campaign talking points, either increasing the PAP or amending it. One such is the new M.E.N.D programme proposed by the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, where it would seek to provide assistance to develop the pariticipants’ skills in order for them to become independent.
Byron-Nisbett is not buying into that idea, lashing out at the SKNLP for its proposal to make changes.
“We ain’t making no mend to nothing! It wokking good and we going to increase it for the people in St. Kitts and Nevis,” she added.
In her campaign speech, she also outlined the push for the proposed National Health Insurance to come on stream in 2023 and make all GAE workers pensionable.
Additionally, she reminded of the Prime Minister’s announcement that from now until September, all back-to-school items are duty free, and the push on VAT reduction from 17 to 10 with the hope of possibly abolishing same.
Citizens and residents in St. Kitts and Nevis will be going to the polls on August 5th to elect a new government, just two years after the last elections were held.
