In announcing the appointment, Lindsay Grant, the leader of the People’s Action Movement carefully explained that “the party has particular priorities at the moment and Byron’s legal training and his intimate knowledge of and involvement in the litigation surrounding the electoral laws and the Constitution over the past two years set him apart from the rest”.

The National Women’s Group understands the care that was given to the appointment and accepts the appointment as being in the best interest of the Party and Country at this point in time.  Quite a few voices have been raised indicating preferences for (a) a woman and (b) a youth i.e. someone under the age of 35.  However, at NWG, we feel that acute situations require strategic decisions to make things right.

We recall that the same criticism was hurled at President Obama when he appointed former, experienced members to his financial establishment.  “Where is the hope?  Where is the change?” many shouted then.  But at the time, the US was going through its worst financial crisis and it was foolhardy to think that someone inexperienced in that field could unwind the very complicated financial morass during those precipitous times.

In Lawyer Vincent Byron Jr., PAM has selected someone who is operating from the bowels of the Court cases – both related to the electoral process and the boundary cases – and he will be well placed in the Assembly to advise on constitutional matters as well, especially when it ‘teeters on the brink of being pushed aside’ at the hands of the present government – as has been done in the recent past.

Moreover, one must have a sense of PAM’s history to recall that PAM has had to fight IN THE COURTS for every inch of progress it has made to achieve its rightful place as a voice in this nation.

The Law Courts represent the last bastion to which PAM can turn for any kind of justice in this country.  Had PAM not gone to Court,

• PAM leaders may still be in jail over the trumped up charges brought against them in 1967
• First Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Sir Kennedy Simmonds would not have won his seat over Alvin Ribeiro  in 1979
• First Female Minister Constance Mitcham may be still waiting for her pension
• St. Kitts would not have received a clear interpretation of the Constitution in relation to where an elector should vote.
• Rampant gerrymandering of the boundaries would have taken place
• The government/attorney general would not have been declared to be ‘in contempt of court’.

In light of the above history, those who rant about the selection must realize we have an ongoing battle on our hands and that specific soldiers are required to fight specific battles. Much as we would have liked to see a woman drawn into the top echelons of government, NWG is prepared to put COUNTRY ABOVE SELF.  True PAM people will understand what this means.