NEWLY elected Member of Parliament (MP) for St Ann North Eastern, Matthew Samuda was sworn in Tuesday during the sitting of the House of Representatives.

After taking the oath of allegiance the MP was welcomed by Deputy Speaker Heroy Clarke; House Leader and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, as well as Members of Parliament on both sides of the House.

Minister Bartlett and Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal Phillip Paulwell wished Samuda all the best in his new role.

Samuda was successful in the by-election held on September 30. This followed the resignation of the former MP Marsha Smith on September 3.

In his response Samuda acknowledged and thanked his colleague MPs for their warm welcome. He also thanked his family, members of his constituency, former MPs Marsha Smith and the late Shahine Robinson.

“St Ann North East has a rich legacy and expects a high level of service. This expectation was set by the late, great Member of Parliament Shahine Robinson, and in acknowledging her significant contribution — not just to the constituency but to the country — I commit to using every waking hour and every ounce of energy to ensure that St Ann North East receives the level of service that it has come to expect, the level of service and investment that it deserves and, of course, the level of care that the people of St Ann North East demand,” he said.

Samuda had served eight years in the Senate. He also served as minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, and minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security.