Former Cayon MP Cedric Liburd responds to false statement by Eugene Hamilton

In an interview with Andre Huie aired on WINNFM, Hamilton in a failed effort to escape being blamed for the current water problem residents of Cayon and Keys are experiencing on a daily basis, said “there has been a water problem for over thirty (30) years or twenty (20) years or more, (and) nothing was done.”

Liburd in response to Hamilton’s statement noted that prior to the 1980 general elections, then St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party MP, Hon Fitzroy Bryant started the upgrading of the water supply in Cayon.

“The Hon. Sydney Morris, who succeeded Bryant following the 1980 election and as part of the PAM government spent fifteen (15) years in office and did nothing to improve the water situation in Cayon and Keys,” said Liburd, who was elected Parliamentary Representative in July 1995.

“As a member of the Labour Cabinet I set about to work on behalf of the people in all of the areas that comprised the constituency of St Christopher 8 that I served until February 2010. Specifically in the area of adequate drinking water, a water storage facility was commissioned with the construction of a 200,000 gallon reservoir at Green Hill in Cayon to serve residents in Cayon and Keys, Wells were also dug in the area to yield additional water,” said Liburd.

“In the area of education, I expanded the Cayon Primary and Cayon High Schools, expanded the Cayon Day Care Centre and Pre-School and I also  facilitated the Windsor University’s move from Bird Rock to Brighton Estate in Cayon,” Liburd disclosed.

He further stated that he sought and successfully acquired sponsorship for the first brand new steel band for the students of the Cayon High School.

“I also provided a scholarship for a student leaving the Primary School to enter the Cayon High School in each of the years from 1996 to 2010; provided a brand new library at the Community Centre for the residents of Cayon and established a brand new computer lab at the Cayon High School,” he said.

In the area of Health Care, Liburd said the Cayon Health Centre was expanded and renovated.

“On taking office, electricity was provided for the residents in Tank village in December 1995, the problem of low voltage was resolved and a sub-station was built to improve electricity supply to resident,” he said.

Cayon he added was not left out in the areas on infrastructure and community development as a brand new Community Centre for the residents of Cayon was built, new roads constructed and upgraded and alleyways paved in St. Mary’s Terrace, Upper Cayon, Spooner’s, Cunningham Village, Cunningham Extension, Lovers Lane, Hermitage Village, and Hermitage Extension.

“Under my stewardship, the Cayon Post Office was relocated and upgraded to provide new services including the provision of letter boxes on the ground floor of the Community Centre. The Labour Government also backfilled the Hermitage ghaut and build roads to protect the residents  in the area,” said Liburd.

“The youths of Cayon were also empowered through skills training under the Short-Term Work Experience Programme and the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) programme. The youths of Cayon also had the opportunity of accessing university scholarships in Cuba, the United States, the United States Virgin Islands in several areas. The youths of Cayon were not left out and Cayon now boasts of a cadre of professionals in medicine, dentistry, engineering and other professions,” Liburd added.

“In the area of land and housing, new housing developments were constructed at Spooner’s, Hermitage, Hermitage extension, Cabbage Tree and Upper Cayon. Under my stewardship, homes were also built for ex-SSMC estate and factory workers in Cayon. I also ensured that the roofs of the fifteen (15) houses built by PAM in Cunningham Village and called chicken-wire houses were replaced,” said Liburd. Over 1,000) lots for houses and businesses were also given out lots in Cayon.

In agriculture, a new group of food and livestock farmers were introduced to the sector and at the closure of the sugar industry more lands in the Green Hill area was provided for the planting of food and fruits.

Other areas of improvement included upgrading the St Mary’s Park to be a practice venue for ICC Cricket World Cup, maintenance of Maynard’s Park and contributions to the Green Valley Festival up to 2010 by sponsoring a contestant in the Miss Green Valley show.

Basketball, football, netball teams and domino competitions also received his support.

One of the hallmarks of Mr Liburd’s representation was his one to one clinics in each area of the constituency.

“From 1993 to 2010, I met the constituents every Tuesday in Cayon while I was on Island,” said Liburd who used the opportunity to thank the residents of Cayon and the entire constituency for giving him the opportunity to improve their standard of living as well as the social, physical, economic and infrastructure development of Cayon and the Constituency as a whole.