by CARLOS ATWELL
BARBADOS LABOUR PARTY (BLP) Christ Church West Member of Parliament Dr Maria Agard is challenging anyone to say she is not pulling her weight in the constituency.
Breaking her silence since facing criticism from her executive committee that she was not giving her all, Agard told the DAILYNATION yesterday that her constituents valued the attention she had given them.
“I want to say my level of representation has always been solid. I take the concerns of my constituents very seriously and I am accessible and responsive. We are proud to say that we have engaged not only a network of Governmentagencies but also corporate Barbados to ensure that when we seek assistance for our constituents, we receive a favourable response,” she said.
A first-time MP, Agard, a dental surgeon, was speaking following a series of meetings held to resolve the issues between her and the committee.
The DAILYNATION understands that a conflict resolution team, comprising Dame Bille Miller, Sir Henry Forde and attorney at law Jimmy Serraro, has been selected
to intervene in the impasse.
Agard, however, said she had brought “a different level of representation”.
“Representation cannot just be a case of only socialisation, it has to go beyond that. While socialisation is a component, true representation must be done diligently and efficiently.
“In fact, even before I was elected, representation and service were what characterised my relationship with the people of Christ Church West and that is what led to me being elected and I will never betray that confidence or trust,” she said.
Among her achievements, Agard listed: finding homes for families; having speed bumps placed; hiring private sanitation services when the Sanitation Service Authority was tardy, and dealing with the aftermath of crime.
“There is not a constituent who can tell you they have sought us out and we didn’t respond. My performance is sound and I can refute any challenge that has been made against me, and in the fullness of time I will be more than happy to give a full account of my representation to the people of Christ Church West,” she said, adding all her welfare cases had been dealt with.
As for her detractors, Agard said their utterances were harming themselves more than her and she bore no grudges.
“If you understand politics, you would not think this is a betrayal. Politics is, in essence, competitive, some might even say cannibalistic, but once you understand the agenda of your detractors, then you are not compromised. Once your service can speak for itself, you are not vulnerable so I do not in any way feel betrayed. I would think the utterances made against me more defined the minds of the individuals than my work.”
Reports indicated that the executive of the branch had charged that Agard had not been active in the community, given that the constituency was a BLP stronghold.
It is understood that she has since written Opposition Leader Mia Mottley requesting a meeting with only the 13 parliamentary members to discuss the issue.
carlosatwell@nationnews.com
