BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING a week of speculation regarding who would be appointed as the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) senator in the Federal Parliament, attorney Vincent Fitzgerald Byron has been called upon to assume the position.
Byron, who was admitted to practice in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in August 2007, noted with humility his satisfaction in being offered the opportunity to serve his party and the nation at a higher level.
“I had never contemplated pursuing public office. So, when I was approached by the PAM to consider being a senator on the opposition benches, I was somewhat surprised and humbled, and also very honoured, to be given an opportunity to take up such a very important role.
“I think that a member of Parliament has to exemplify maturity to be able to offer responsible debate in the National Assembly, and so I do think that with my background and the interest that I have had over my not-so-short life that I can make a contribution to the betterment of our country,” Byron told SKNVibes in an exclusive interview earlier today (Mar. 1).
Byron became widely known in the Federation for his role as legal counsel representing PAM in tribunals and high court matters, with a special focus on the nation’s electoral process. He has led cases to remove the names of voters who had illegally been registered in Constituency St. Christopher Eight and served his party in constitutional high court cases filed by Leader Lindsay Grant and Deputy Shawn Richards.
Byron is also involved in the recently launched election petition that is seeking to challenge the results of Constituency St. Christopher Four following the January 25, 2010 General Elections.
These matters, according to him, are still at the top of the agenda as he prepares to function in the capacity of Opposition Senator.
“All of these litigations that we are pursuing are all bound up in the issue of our electoral process... This is one area that I have a deep interest in and which I hope I can help to bring some sanity to this very unscrupulous practice that is something of a scourge on our society.
“I would think that one would want to bring a certain level of discourse to Parliament. Not always do we maintain a high standard of decorum and I would hope that I could be an example to our citizens of someone who conducts himself with the highest standards,” Byron further stated.
Other top priority items for Byron are economic issues and the empowerment of locals, whether in business, sports, culture or otherwise.
Byron holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of the West Indies, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Wolverhampton. He has also worked as a management and financial consultant, and as an instructor of Information Technology.
