Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 29, 2016 (SKNIS)—The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ first living national hero, Dr. the Right Excellent and the Right Honourable Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds, along with his wife, Lady Simmonds, has given high commendation to Mrs. Akilah Byron-Nisbett on her appointment as Senator in the National Assembly on October 26, 2016.
In a written statement to the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service, Sir Kennedy and his wife said that they view the appointment of Honourable Senator Byron-Nisbett “as a clear message to the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis that they are welcomed to partake of all the available opportunities for individual growth and development, and be fully assured that their voice will be heard and their concerns addressed.”
“She has the qualifications, intelligence and strength of character to succeed in her new appointment and make a valuable contribution towards making our country stronger and more sensitive to the concerns of young people and women from all walks of life,” they added. “She graduated from college with high honours and was always recognized for her exceptional work ethic and dedication to all of her undertakings.”
Senator Nisbett holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Computer Information System from Quinnipiac University, Connecticut, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of South Florida. She has extensive experience in Management Information Systems (MIS), having worked at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the MIS Unit, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Ltd, as a systems analyst.
For a number of years, the newly appointed honourable senator has been involved in the organisation of the annual Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant. She has the distinction of representing the Federation in 2000 at the Commonwealth Millennium Youth Parliament.
Senator Nisbett is married to Alexis Nisbett. The couple has three children, two boys, Ajani and Amani, and one girl, Anaya.
Adding to the plaudits of Sir Kennedy and Lady Simmonds, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said that his Cabinet gave full support to the appointment of Mrs. Byron-Nisbett as the right choice to fit the post of Senator in the National Assembly and imminently as deputy speaker.
“I am truly delighted to welcome Mrs. Akilah Byron Nisbett as our newly appointed Senator to the Federal Parliament. In surrendering a lucrative career at the ECCB, she has demonstrated how highly she regards national service through her own self-sacrifice. Not only does her appointment increase female representation in one of the highest public offices, but as a working mother of three, she stands as an excellent role model and inspiration for all women across the Federation, showing just what can be achieved through hard work and dedication,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Sir Kennedy Simmonds was a founding member of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) Party. He was Premier of St. Kitts and Nevis from 21st February 1980, until the twin-island state of St. Kitts and Nevis gained Independence from the United Kingdom on 19th September, 1983. Upon Independence, he became the first Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and as such has been hailed as “The Father of the Nation”. In 2004, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order St. Michael and St. George. In 2015, Sir Kennedy became the fifth person to be named as a National Hero by the National Assembly. He is the first living person to receive this honour.