Kay appointed opposition senator

Leader of the Opposition, Godwin Friday, has nominated his New Democratic Party’s (NDP) candidate for West St. George, lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste as a senator in the House of Assembly.

The NDP said in a statement Monday afternoon that Bacchus-Baptiste will replace university lecturer, Julian “Jules” Ferdinand, immediately.

Ferdinand failed to win West St. George for the NDP in the December 2015 general election — his only outing at the polls.

Ferdinand announced earlier this year that since his party expects early elections, he no longer wished to be considered as a candidate since his teaching commitment did not allow him time to dedicate to politics.

“The executive and members of the NDP thank Dr. Ferdinand for his years of positive and committed contribution to the party, the people of SVG and wish him all success in his future endevours,” the party said in a statement.

“The NDP is confident that Mrs. Kay Bacchus-Baptiste as senator will be an asset in the House of Assembly and will continue to provide positive representation to the people of West St. George and by extension St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Bacchus-Baptiste is a member of the NDP’s legal team that is challenging the outcome of the 2015 elections in Central Leeward and North Windward.

Her husband, Lauron Baptiste, who was also a first-time candidate, failed to unseat the ruling Unity Labour Party’s Montgomery Daniel, who was returned for a forth term in office, according to the official count.

The appointment of Bacchus-Baptiste brings to three the number of female Members of Parliament — all three of whom are senators.

The NDP’s other senator is Marcia “Zita” Barnwell, while Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affair and Information, Deborah Charles, sits on the government benches.

Charles, an educator, failed in her bid in 2015 to wrest West Kingstown from the NDP’s Daniel Cummings, who was returned for a second consecutive term.