BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE the explanation given by a senior member of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) for soldiers attired in combat fatigue marching through the streets of Basseterre yesterday morning (June 10), many people are of the view that it was a show of force to intimidate citizens and residents of the Federation.
In his explanation, Public Affairs Officer Captain Kayode Sutton said the significance of the march was to commemorate the bravery and selfless commitment to duty by soldiers of the then St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Defence Force to repel the rebels who had attempted to invade Camp Springfield.
“The march through the streets of Basseterre this morning is to commemorate the June 10, 1967 attempted invasion of Camp Springfield. It is just to commemorate the 46th Anniversary of that event. It is also to honour the efforts of members of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Defence Force who were at Camp Springfield at that time. We are not honouring just the effort of one soldier, we are honouring their collective effort because soldiers work as a team. So we are honouring their efforts, their bravery and their commitment today.”
However, Deputy Leader of the People’s Action Movement and Parliamentary Representative of St. Christopher Eight, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton is adamant that the march was a show of force at a time when the Government is under pressure to debate the Motion of No Confidence that was before the Parliament since December last year.
The Parliamentarian said he heard about the march from his party’s Leader the Hon. Shawn Richards and that an exercise of that nature ought not to have been done on that day.
Hamilton likened the march to that of the United States of America when that country, together with South Korea, staged a joint military exercise in a dramatic show of force with stealth bombers to signal their readiness to respond to any hostile action by North Korea.
He stated that while July 10, 1967 is a significant day in the life of St. Kitts and Nevis, for Prime Minister Douglas “it is D Day”.
Hamilton also stated that he had never seen or heard members of the Defence Force marching every year on the 10th of July and that Monday morning’s march was indeed “an expression and show of force”.
From this backdrop, SKNVibes took to the streets of Basseterre this afternoon and spoke to 28 individuals. Twenty of them believed that the march was a show of force, three did not and five were undecided.
With the exception of one, the interviewees spoke under condition of anonymity and this publication decided to only highlight the better responses to the question…“Do you believe that the soldiers’ march on Monday was to intimidate the populace?”
Wilfred Williams, a Muslim, said, “First of all, it was not intimidation. The reason why it was not intimidation is because members of the Defence Force have an obligation in protecting the sovereignty of this country. With that being said, it happens so that the occasion arises every year, and therefore they are obligated to remind the young recruits who are coming in that ‘this is what we did on such and such a day and it is our tradition’. Therefore, it is not intimidation; it’s just that we try to bring politics into what is necessary for the army or law enforcement period. Not only do they have the obligation to protect the citizens of this country, but also an obligation to promote the organisation. So, therefore, I find that politics is not involved…there isn’t any intimidation! They have a right to do so and I think the people need to stop the foolishness with the politics.”
An ex-soldier was of similar view.
“I see nothing wrong with members of our Defence Force marching in full combat fatigue in the streets of our Capital on that day. It is a day that reminds us what could have happened were it not for a small group of brave men who successfully denied the Anguillan rebels from overrunning Camp Springfield and causing unnecessary bloodshed and the taking of innocent lives. Every army in the world has a tradition and I see no wrong in the march on Monday. It should happen every year as a reminder to all of us who dearly love this country.”
“It was indeed a show of force! I am 40 years old and I have never seen soldiers march in Basseterre on this day, more so in battle dress. I feel they were trying to intimidate the citizens of the country. I would like to say that as the army did march, it is time for the citizens to do the same in peaceful protest against a government that does not want to have the No Confidence Motion tabled in Parliament. Everybody should come out and march, because it is our democratic right to do so without interference from the police and army,” a high school teacher opined.
A young female accounts clerk is of the view that members of the Defence Force should be seen in strength not only on the anniversary date, but on a regular basis on the streets to assure the nation that it is in capable hands.
“I was not around when this incursion occurred, but seeing the soldiers yesterday gave me the assurance that they are capable, just like those in 1967, to protect us. Therefore, I see nothing wrong with them marching on the streets of Basseterre. They should do this more often and not only on the anniversary date.”
Her male companion however begged to differ.
I, too, was not around when the Anguillans attempted to overthrow the government, but why should the soldiers choose that day to march around town dressed as if for war? That is not only a show of force, but also a strategy to intimidate us. I believe they came out because they were given orders by the politicians so that any group that wants to protest against what the government is doing will be forced to reconsider its intended action.”
A male senior citizen also saw the march as an act of intimidation and show of force.
“Nonsense, it was to put fear in the hearts of the people. They claimed that the march was to honour the brave men who repelled the invaders. There was no need for them to march at this time when the political situation is on tender hooks. Instead of marching to show your force on that day, why was a dinner not organised to honour those brave men? I am certain that some of them are still alive, And those who are not, organise a mock battle like what they did a few years ago at Brimstone Hill and invite the public to see how those brave soldiers stopped the Anguillan rebels and the American mercenaries from taking Camp Springfield.”
Another male senior citizen also made his contribution.
“I don’t have much to say even though I was in St. Kitts when the incident occurred. I have never seen the army march in the past on July 10. I think the army has a hidden agenda when one thinks about the current political climate. And why is it we are being reminded every year about July 10, 1967 and not about 1993 when Dr. Douglas led Labour supporters into Church Street. Permit me to say that it took bottles and stones to get Labour in government, and it would not take violence to get them out but the will of the people.”
