So ... about this lady right here. Roughly eight years ago, August 2012, while at a dinner for the Jamaican Association of Bermuda, she pulled me to the side and said: “Stop wasting your energy on Facebook debates and run for a seat so you can debate in the House of Assembly like a big boy!”Later in 2012, we lost the General Election and she became a One Bermuda Alliance Cabinet minister.During her time as minister, I was able to contact her to sort out a variety of issues for different people. She never once asked if they were Progressive Labour Party or One Bermuda Alliance; she simply got the matters sorted.The electoral tide was reversed in 2017 and I became an MP. On the first day of Parliament in 2017, she pulls me aside, once again, and says: “Oh, I see you took my advice seriously!”During the past three years, we have enjoyed debating and giving “Points of Order” to each other on a number of topics; too many to name. Yet, after almost each spirited debate, we always had a chuckle at the points raised or missed.Canvassing queenFast-forward to 2020 and, as fate would have it, we ended up running for the same seat — Devonshire East.During the past month, we often were canvassing on the same streets at the same time — she leaving houses that I was going into or vice versa.More often than not, constituents would say: “Oh, Ms Pamplin just left here and she spoke highly of you.”So, I can say without a doubt, that she worked this seat hard, very hard. So hard that I had to redouble my canvassing to keep up with her.Anyone wishing to run for Parliament should go to her for tutoring in effective canvassing.One DevonshireOn Election Day, candidates usually stay far from each other for obvious reasons. Well, not in Devonshire East.It was my honour to stand next to this hard-working lady, the very same one who encouraged me to enter politics, for most of the day as we greeted voters coming through the gate.You see, in Devonshire, we have all strived to be better neighbours, no matter the colour of our skin or our political parties. We are one.Well, except for Cup Match.Better neighboursPatricia Gordon-Pamplin worked Devonshire East in a methodical manner during a short period of time. She deserves a round of applause for her efforts, as she did so with grace and class.For me, as I stood at the gates, I saw many whom I knew and have formed relationships with.Yet, what bothered me the most was that I saw many who I didn’t know and who I had no relationship with.Well, no relationship as yet.This indicates that I have many, many more doors to knock on to know everyone who resides in Devonshire East.To those I may not know as yet, I apologise for this.Parish prideWe will work that much harder for everyone to bring our parish closer. We will work to become better neighbours.Every other week, we will be conducting our Parish Pride Project area clean-ups and pruning of overgrown foliage in different areas of Devonshire and Smith’s.If you know of any areas that need trimming, roads with potholes and/or street lights that need fixing, please contact us with the respective locations and photographs.To those that came out for the General Election and during advance polling, we thank you for exercising your voice.Have a blessed weekend.#devonshirestrong• 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