BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 14TH 2013 (CUOPM) – Minister of Health, Social and Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, the Hon. Marcella Liburd says St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is an excellent leader who has a compassionate heart for the less fortunate in the twin-island Federation.
“I believe the Prime Minister is a human being. He has made his mistakes like all human beings, but the Prime Minister is someone who I would stand with. I think he is an excellent leader. I think he has a compassionate heart. I think he is people- oriented, especially those who are most vulnerable and I see every policy and programme that is put in place, he would probably be the first to say how it will impact those who are the least able to help themselves,” said Liburd in an interview with WINNFM’s Clive Bacchus Friday morning.
“And that for me does it, because the truth is we would not be going any place if we are not looking after those who are least able to help themselves. So for me he is astute. He is knowledgeable, and I think he is an excellent leader,” said Minister Liburd, who is also chairperson of the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.
She said Prime Minister Douglas is highly respected for his leadership role not only locally, but also regionally and internationally and “most people who are reasonable, would have come to that conclusion.”
Responding to questions, she was said she was of the view that being in office for a very long time, especially in politics “you get good friends and you also get better enemies and so a lot of it is just vitriol, a lot of it is just persons who whether for political or personal reasons.”
“And when you listen to a lot of it, which I don’t really listen much to anymore, it is just a question of a vendetta that some people think they need to address and very often not giving credit for a lot of the things that he has done for this country and also a lot of the things that he continues to do for this country,” said Ms. Liburd, a former Speaker of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Assembly.
She pointed to the Prime Minister’s efforts in reducing the national debt.
“He practically took this on by himself. We had people in there (Cabinet) who are very bright in accounts, (and) who never lifted a finger to help with the debt reduction strategy. The Prime Minister led on this to the extent that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is now trying to use this as a model,” she pointed out.