Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Nevis
April 24, 2008 (CUOPM
The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly bade farewell to its Speaker the Hon. Marcella Liburd and shortly after, unanimously elected the Hon. Curtis Martin as her successor.
Liburd served as a senator in the First Denzil Douglas Labour Party Administration from 1995 until she resigned in early 2000 to make way for incoming Senator the Hon. Jacinth Henry-Martin, who went on to serve as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2000 to 2004.
Liburd, who was elected Speaker following the 2004 General Elections, was the Federation’s Second Female Speaker of the law making body. The first was the Hon. Ada May Edwards, who also served in the House of Assembly, during the Labour Party Administration of the Right Excellent Sir Robert L. Bradshaw.
Ms. Liburd, a lawyer, former educator and sports enthusiast, is the fourth female to be a member of the National Assembly in St. Kitts and Nevis. The others were Mrs. Jean Byron-Condor, Miss Constance Mitcham, Mrs. Anne Wigley and Mrs. Jacinth Henry-Martin.
Prime Minister and Political Leader of the ruling St. Kitts – Nevis Labour Party, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas paid glowing tribute to the outgoing Speaker during the Special Sitting of the House of Assembly. Similar sentiments were also echoed by all members on the Government and Opposition Benches.
They all highly commended her for the professionalism she exhibited during her tenure as Speaker and wish her success in her future endeavours.
Following her departure from the National Assembly Chamber, the lawmaking body reconvened with Deputy Speaker, Hon. Patrice Nisbett in the chair.
Leader of Government Business, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sam Condor nominated Vice President of Human Resource, Cable and Wireless (St. Kitts – Nevis) Limited, Mr. Curtis Martin. The nomination was seconded by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Hon. Dennis Merchant.
There being no further nomination, Mr. Martin was unanimously elected to succeed Ms. Liburd. He was brought into the Chamber by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Opposition Parliamentarian and Political Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), the Hon. Vance Amory.
Following the administering of the Oath of Allegiance, by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Jose Lloyd, the new Speaker, Mr. Martin made history by becoming the youngest person to become Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly.
He immediately went to work presiding over the sitting which debated and passed the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, the Organised Crime (Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Bill and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Bill.