Newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for South St James, Nekeisha Burchell, has issued a stern warning to her predecessor, Homer Davis, accusing him of overstepping his bounds and attempting to act as if he still holds office.

In a video to constituents posted on her Instagram page, Burchell said she has been focused on getting to work since being sworn in on Monday, September 22. “It’s been a week since I’ve been sworn in as our Member of Parliament, officially given the authority to act on our behalf,” she declared.

Burchell explained that she has already begun engaging ministries, departments, and agencies to secure accurate data on spending and allocations for constituency projects. “My goal is simple. I want to come from a place of facts. I want to know what has been spent, what has been committed, and what remains available so we can plan our projects properly and deliver on the mandate you gave me on September 3,” she said.

However, she paused her update to address what she described as “an urgent matter” involving her defeated opponent. “Honestly, I’m surprised that I even have to address something like this,” Burchell said. “The defeated former MP has been presenting himself as though he still holds authority, even in his own words and on his social media platforms.”

According to Burchell, Davis recently attached himself to a government project in a public video, boasting that he intended to do the same with six more. “Let me be clear,” she said firmly. “He has no mandate, no jurisdiction, and no office to direct contractors or communities on government-based projects.”

Burchell also accused Davis of leaving behind a financial burden. “On the Constituency Development Fund, I have learned that the former MP has already overcommitted the $20 million allocation for this fiscal year. The majority has already been disbursed, leaving little for our urgent needs.”

She emphasised that agencies, contractors, and partners must now recognise her as the legitimate representative. “Do not accept instructions from him. Engage my office directly. It is a new day in South St James,” Burchell urged.

The new MP underscored the importance of democratic respect. “The people of South St James made their choice. That choice was me.” Drawing a comparison with past political transitions, she added: “In 2016, just two weeks after taking office, the JLP renamed a highway built by the PNP after Edward Seaga. They wasted no time in taking ownership because winners take responsibility and losers accept the outcome.”

Concluding her remarks, Burchell suggested that Davis should focus on retirement rather than interfering with constituency business. “The defeated former MP is free to live his life how he chooses… but he is not free to act as your Member of Parliament. If he continues, we will respond accordingly.”