KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Chair of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Linton Lewis, who has lost in elections here thrice, believes that his appointment to the Senate would improve his chance of winning a seat in Parliament.
“It should have a positive impact because people will now have the opportunity to see me and to hear me in the House of Parliament and the type of representation that I will give to the people of East St. George and also for the New Democratic Party, hopefully, it will extend to the whole of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said Tuesday.
Lewis lost once in West St. George and twice in East St. George where Health Minister Clayton Burgin beat him in 2005 and 2010.
Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace announced on radio Tuesday that he has given Lewis the nod to take up the seat left vacant when Anesia Baptiste was fired last month.
“Well, I feel delighted; they have brought me back to the days when I was a child in Calliaqua with the drums. I haven’t lost a touch at all. I am really enjoying myself,” Lewis told radio talk show host and NDP executive member Clemroy “Bert” Francois in Calliaqua Tuesday, where he was among residents drumming in celebration of the announcement.
“I will try my best. I will endeavour to ensure that at least the quality of the House [of Assembly] remains and is improved. I will endeavour to add to it and no doubts my colleagues are doing a good job in the House and I will like to help to maintain that quality of presentation and representation,” said Lewis, a lawyer and accountant.
Lewis, who has won and loss in elections in the St. George constituencies thrice, said that his “critics are few and far in between and there will always be criticisms.
“I grew up as a young boy playing cricket at a very early age for St. Vincent and not everybody supported me,” he said.
“I think that the majority seems to support the position and the selection and you will always have people who have personal grudges. … You will always find these people who have resentment and so on will tend to be destructively critical but I don’t bother with those people,” he further stated.
“I don’t listen to them, as a matter of fact. My focus is developing the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and working in the interest of the New Democratic Party,” he further stated.