Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2016 (SKNIS): Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has revealed that Akilah Byron Nisbett of Mattingley Farm Housing, Basseterre, has been appointed as a Member of Parliament and will be presented as the nominee for Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament, during his press conference held October 26, 2016.
Prime Minister Harris said that the nominee took the oath of office for Senator today (October 26) in the presence of family, friends, members of Cabinet, and the Governor General, His Excellency Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, who administered the oath of Office. He also revealed that Mrs. Byron Nisbett will be nominated as Deputy Speaker at the next sitting of Parliament.
It was noted that the appointment of Mrs. Byron Nisbett will improve the gender balance within Cabinet.
“Her appointment as a Senator also augments the female complement within our Parliament, for which my Cabinet is grateful,” Prime Minister Harris said. “Her presence certainly adds credence to our Team Unity Administration’s commitment to the cause of greater involvement of women in the leadership of our Nation, including, but not limited to, the political life of our country.”
A brief summary was given of Mrs. Byron Nisbett’s accomplishments which include being trained in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and having worked at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) where her most recent position was as a Systems Analyst. She currently serves in an ICT managerial position with the St. Christopher Air & Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA).
Prime Minister Harris revealed that Mrs. Byron Nisbett has a family and has been exposed to parliamentary procedures from youth.
“She is a supportive wife, and loving mother of three,” Prime Minister Harris said. “For a number of years she has been involved in the organisation of the annual Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant. Mrs. Byron Nisbett is a former member of the St Kitts and Nevis Youth Parliamentary Association (SKNYPA), and has the distinction of representing the Federation in 2000 at the Commonwealth Millennium Youth Parliament.”
Prime Minister Harris said that the “Team Unity Administration welcomes the appointment of Mrs. Akilah Byron Nisbett and is confident that she would make a meaningful contribution to the development of this country.”
