BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORMER Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Eight, Cedric Roy Liburd is criticising the current Representative, Hon. Eugene Hamilton, for failing his constituents and has expressed his willingness and ability to once again represent them, if they are so minded.
Liburd – who was outvoted by Hamilton in the January 2010 General Elections – recently spoke with SKNVibes about the possibility of contesting the upcoming general elections, whenever they are held.
He expressed that his willingness to serve his constituents has not diminished since his loss and he awaits word on whether or not his availability would find favour and found to be prudent.
“In terms of running, that is a decision of the Executive and members of the constituency and the party (St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party – SKNLP) Executive. As soon as they are able to confirm that I am the candidate, I will officially give notice that I am. I am available, I am willing…”
Liburd, known during his tenure in government as the ‘Action Minister’, indicated that when he lost his seat after years in office, he gave notice that he would step aside and make room for another who would wish to contest on a SKNLP ticket.
And if he is not selected as the candidate, Liburd noted that he would throw his support behind the designated individual, whoever he or she may be.
“Presently, the Constituency Executive is putting its plans together in terms of a strategy going forward, and as soon as that is completed it will be announced.”
According to Liburd, since the People’s Action Movement’s Hamilton took control of the Constituency Number Eight seat, he has not serve his constituents well and has named him “a failure”.
“Look at the constituency before the last three years and see the services that were provided. There are a number of areas; for instance, for the Christmas season, not even a Christmas card for the constituents, no hampers for the people, only if there is an anniversary. He has three or four constituency offices and none is open, only now and again you would see the Cayon office open for a domino game. These are the things that the people have recognised…there is nothing.
“When I was in opposition before 1995, you can check the constituency record and see that I was vibrant in the constituency as someone who was seeking office. Now he (Hamilton) is in office, even though he says he is in opposition because he is on the Opposition Benches, as a Parliamentary Representative, there are quite a bit of things that I think he can do to help.”
The former Parliamentary Representative said he is regularly called upon to assist his constituents where the current Representative had failed, and he does so readily.
As for Hamilton’s preoccupation, Liburd expressed the view that “he just looks forward to Parliaments” while he neglects his constituents.
