Newly appointed Senator Abena St. Luce says she plans to use her role in the Upper House to advocate for youth mentorship, encouragement and greater female leadership in Antigua and Barbuda.

Speaking after Friday’s swearing-in ceremony at Government House, St. Luce described the moment as emotional and “bittersweet,” revealing that her father was unable to attend because of illness.

“I’m still getting over the shock of it,” she said. “And it’s a bittersweet moment for me, to be honest with you. I am a little saddened that my father could not be here with me. He’s not well.”

“But I know if he were here at this event, he would be probably my biggest cheerleader,” she added.

St. Luce, the daughter of the late national figure Sir John E. St. Luce, also thanked Prime Minister Gaston Browne for appointing her to the Senate.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister, Honourable Gaston Browne, for being selected for this honourable position, and I hope to serve the nation to the fullest and the best of my abilities,” she said.

Asked about the issues she intends to raise in Senate debates, St. Luce said her experiences as a mother heavily influence her priorities.

“As a mother, because I do have a son and a daughter, 15 and 12… naturally, I am very passionate about our youth, the opportunities, ensuring that they are provided the support they require in order to flourish in our environment,” she said.

The senator stressed that youth development must go beyond access to schools and programmes and include mentorship and emotional support.

“It’s one thing to create the environment to make sure we have all the different schools and educational programs, but they also need mentorship,” St. Luce said. “They need somebody there to encourage them and motivate them and tell them, not only are these things accessible, but you are worthy.”

“And I think that’s a big thing for me,” she added.

St. Luce also identified women’s leadership as another major area she intends to champion during her Senate tenure.

“I’m a member of SEWIL, Caribbean Women in Leadership,” she said. “So naturally, I want to see more women occupying spaces of leadership.”

“So I will be pushing my fellow sisters here in Antigua and Barbuda to reach for the heights and have a voice at the table,” she added.

St. Luce was among several first-time senators sworn in Friday as Parliament continues to be reconstituted following the April 30 general election.