Five years ago this week, I was privileged to be able to represent the people of Devonshire officially.

It has been truly a journey to get to know all of the ins and outs of being able to attempt to be the best Member of Parliament and neighbour that the people of Devonshire deserve. Running for office is one thing; it is another thing to be able to interact with people and be willing to take the hard knocks along the way.

Along the way, there have been some hiccups locally and nationally. So, for that, I take responsibility. It has been the words of encouragement, and tough love, when needed that keep us going.

The reality of politics is that not even Barack Obama ever had more than 50 per cent of Americans vote for him. Likewise, there are those who will always vote for you, and there are those who most likely will never vote for you.

Most of the time, it is not personal but based on differing outlooks. When you have these one-on-one conversations with those who do not agree with you, whether face-to-face or online, it has a way of sharpening your debating skills and maturing you politically.

These past five years have been an exercise in representing all who fall under our responsibility. Ironically, some of the best debates on the doorstep are with those who don’t readily agree with you.

One of the greatest honours over the past five years is knowing that the people of Devonshire never hesitate to call us — or call us out — when there are local or national issues. The day they stop doing so is the day to start worrying.

In closing, looking forward to being the best neighbour that I can be.

Love always.

Ps. The cup is heading back east in seven days.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com