BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ONCE again the people of St. Kitts and Nevis joined the People's Action Movement (PAM) and took to the streets of Basseterre to protest the swapping of 1 200 acres of land-for-debt owed by the Federation, among other issues.
With placards and national flags in hand, hundreds of men, women and children marched through the streets of Basseterre not only for the Land Bill but also for a number of other reasons, including high electricity rates, lack of employment opportunities, discrepancies in governance and a change in government.
The march kicked off from Greenlands at 4:30 p.m. and travelled left across Cayon Street, right onto Church Street, left onto Central Street, right onto College Street Ghaut, left onto Liverpool Row, left up Fort Street, right onto Cayon Street, right onto West Independence Square Street, left onto South Independence Square Street and continued onto George Street where they came to a halt.
During the procession, a large number of protestors took a bold step and marched off the route stipulated by the police and went down Church Street in front of Government Headquarters, while others gathered on George Street awaiting the marchers’ arrival and to hear what messages the speakers had for them.
Once again the protestors showed their creativity with interesting, if not funny, placards demonstrating their disagreement with the lands swap Bill and described their feelings towards some of today's issues.
Some read: "No confidence in Douglas", "Save our lands", "Electricity bills killing me", "keep your hands off our lands", "Land Swap for National Debt me (photo of a donkey)".
At the rally, members of the PAM as well as well known community personnel address the gathering. They include PAM's Chairman Selwyn 'Rusty' Liburd, Operation Rescue’s member Richard Caines, a member of SPIRIT's Executive body Che-Raina Warner, Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Eight Hon. Eugene Hamilton, PAM’s Representative for Constituency Four Lindsay Grant and Leader of the PAM Hon. Shawn Richards.
Some spoke on the issue of the land-for-debt swap, while others voiced their disapproval on a number of issues including the high National Debt, La Valley and the Bill to increase Senators in the House of Parliament.
In his opening remarks, Liburd thanked the people for going out to the march and noted that among the supporters of his political party were members of Operation Rescue and SPIRIT, stating that there is strength in numbers.
He reiterated his prediction that general elections are very close and encouraged parents with children who are of voting age to have them registered before it is too late.
He also predicted that the Prime Minister's statement tonight (Dec. 6) would be about the resignation of the Attorney General Hon. Patrice Nisbett, noting that it was all a part of PM Douglas' plot to have more people on his side during Parliament.
Speaking with Richards, he expressed his pleasure in seeing the large turnout and noted that he was equally pleased to see that they were far more vocal than at the previous protest march.
Richards said the turnout signified the strength of the cause and it also demonstrated the country's readiness for change, noting that it is clear that the people of the Federation are no longer going to sit back and allow the Dr. Douglas’ administration to do as it pleases.
