ALP Spokesman Downplays Bird’s Health Concerns

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Politics

Monday, 20 August 2012 02:29

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - The research officer for the Leader of the opposition has dismissed concerns about his boss's health.

Lionel "Max" Hurst said Lester Bird, 74, has been able to carry out his official functions adequately, though he admitted the former prime minister has been absent from some ceremonial activities.

Reportedly, some elected members of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) had started a discussion that would see Bird give up his role as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, although he would retain his seat in Parliament as well as continue as Political Leader of the party.

That was in light of his recent non-attendance at some major functions including the inauguration of the OECS Assembly earlier this month.

However, several of them denied such a plot in the wake of condemnation by the party leader.

Hurst said, "I don't find there is any inadequacy at any time on the part of Mr. Bird at all.

"Mr. Bird can still stand and walk, he can still sit...There will come a time when he gets older but at this moment that is not a problem for Mr. Bird," he insisted.

Last week, Bird issued a statement informing his colleagues that he has no intention of stepping down right now.

He quoted the ALP Constitution which states that “The Political Leader of the Party shall serve as the parliamentary leader…and [be] the person entitled to head any government formed by the Party..."

In contrast, the Antigua & Barbuda Constitution states that the Leader of the Opposition should be the person who commands the majority support among his colleagues in the House.

Hurst said that Bird's position on the issue is correct, adding that only  when the leader of the party is not in the Parliament should someone else fulfill that obligation.

"I don't believe that any act to replace Mr. Bird is still afoot. I know that members whose names were mentioned last week have said they have not held any meeting to talk about replacing Mr. Bird."

The research officer added, "We should do our very best not to nurture and encourage any talk that would derail the victory that we anticipate in 2014. We are looking forward to winning that election."

Hurst concluded that rumours about a plot are being encouraged by the media because it helps to sell newspapers, and have people listening to radio programmes and reading online newspapers.

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