BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Opposition in the Federal Parliament is claiming that its members were mobbed by “angry” supporters of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party yesterday (Dec. 7) while they were making their exit from Government Headquarters.
The Opposition Members and Members of the Government Benches were assembled in the Parliament with the expectation that debates would have ensued, but the session was postponed owing to the announced illness of the Speaker of the House.
The Hon. Mark Brantley – Leader of the Opposition – explained to SKNVibes that it was after that announcement the assault was executed on the Opposition Members.
“This morning (Friday) we saw the beginning of the end for Dr. Douglas. In a desperate bid, he appeared to have called out his supporters who showed up in Parliament filling up the gallery and the streets outside in red. I don’t know what the point of that was, because if he feels that he can intimidate anybody in Parliament he is wrong!
“These people came out and upon Parliament being cancelled because of the sudden illness of the Speaker, we the Members of Parliament on the Opposition side - as we exited the Government Headquarters - were surrounded by angry Labour supporters who used various expletives at us and in addition they said they don’t want any Nevis people down here and that we must go back to Nevis. Perhaps if I were to answer them I would remind them that Patrice Nisbett (who is) now propping up Dr. Denzil Douglas is from Nevis, but that perhaps is a matter for another time.”
Brantley further explained that they were able to escape the confrontation unharmed following police intervention.
He said the evidence is proof of Dr. Douglas’ desperate need to hold on to the reins of power and expressed his concern with the levels to which the Prime Minister would go in order to stay at the helm.
“I think it is a matter of grave concern because what we are seeing emerging as Dr. Douglas desperately clings to office is mob rule. We are seeing people calling out their supporters and you must ask yourself and your readers, what happens if the People’s Action Movement calls out their supporters? What happens if I come down from Nevis with a vast number of CCM supporters?
“Is that what we want that Parliament, a House that ought to be respected and respectable and where we ought to sit to debate business, the people’s business, disintegrates into mob rule? Is that what we want? That is what we see today, so we must ask the question if that is what we want?"
