Minister Byron-Nisbett Encourages Young Women To Pursue Careers In Active Politics
Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 30, 2020 (ZIZ):
By: Chaïra Flanders
The Honorable Akilah Byron-Nisbett is encouraging young women to pursue careers in active politics as she says not enough women are working in this field.
She was at the time speaking in a brief interview with ZIZ where she expressed her desire to see more young women stepping into many of the policy deciding roles that have been dominated by men.
“I know much is said that for the first time we have such a young woman who [has] put herself up for active politics and I want to encourage a lot of other young women to take that step as well. I want my time and my tenure in government to be an example to them that we can be involved in politics at this level, that we can have the opportunity to win at this level, that we can represent the people of various constituencies and that we can run ministries just as any other man can and we can do it with all of the grace and class that comes with being a woman”, the Minister said.
She also expressed that it is her hope to see her win open many other doors for young women all across the federation whether outside of politics or in the business world.
“I want my tenure to show what it means to truly be a woman in politics and a woman running for politics and in this position and I want it to be as a means of encouragement for young women coming behind me so that they can see that you can be in politics without being nasty and without character assassination, rising above everything and staying focused”, Byron-Nisbett explained.
She wrapped up her message with advice on the importance of remaining focused to achieve your goals.
“Its just about encouraging young women not only in politics but in anything that you do. Stay focused. There’s going to be nay-sayers, there’s going to be persons who would think that they can call you names and do whatever it is to encourage you but you have to be focused and say this is what I am trying to achieve and I am going to work towards that”, she expressed.
Byron-Nisbett is the first female to contest and win that seat and the first non-candidate of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to win Constituency #3. She contested in the general elections as a People’s Labour Party (PLP) candidate, beating her opponent Hon. Konris Maynard of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party with 1342 votes.
She says she remains forever grateful to the people of West Basseterre for giving her the opportunity to serve.
The Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett will serve as St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Health, ICT, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Talent Development.