BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 13TH 2013 (CUOPM) – Medical practitioner, Dr. Vance Gilbert is of the view the challenges and difficulties faced by a nation can be used to reshape history, change course and reform.
“Every country goes through some difficulties and challenges and small island states like ours, St. Kitts and Nevis, is no exception. Sometimes these challenging and difficult times are unavoidable but certainly it is an opportunity that we can learn from,” he told nationals at a town hall meeting in the Bronx, New York last Sunday.
“The fact that you are here today shows how much you care about St. Kitts and Nevis and that you have not forgotten about St. Kitts and Nevis. I am humbled to have the honour to be in your presence this afternoon,” said Dr. Gilbert, who has his own private practice and pharmacy on Cayon Street.
He told nationals that he was speaking to them, especially those who are from Constituency #7, from Belle Vue to Ottley’s, as they “no longer want to be represented by a person who have chosen the path of betrayal by a man who obviously for his own personal interests have betrayed his Government, his Party and the People who have sent him to public office.”
“I think that the people of Constituency #7 have decided that that can’t be right in any language, any colour, no day, no way, no how, it can’t be right. And so because of that, the people have decided that they want new representation. And so they have asked me to put myself forward to take up the mantle of leadership in Constituency #7. They have asked me to continue the work of Labour in the constituency, to advance the cause of our country and our people. People called and I answered,” said Dr. Gilbert to wild cheers from the audience.
The Tabernacle-born Cuban-trained official in detailing his childhood noted that his parents had to struggle to make ends meet.
“I know the difficulties we had during the time when I was growing up, when the area that I lived in was basically not taken care of by the (Kennedy Simmonds/PAM) Administration at that time. And growing up as a child, I was always involved in other people’s lives. I was involved in helping my community, helping the children younger than me and so, ever since this small, I knew that my life was going to be one of that of service where I would try to give back.”