BASSETERRRE, St. Kitts – Leading opposition party on St. Kitts, the People’s Action Movement (PAM) signalled the launch of a more aggressive political campaign with a number of public demonstrations “sending strong messages to the voters and incumbent Labour party”.

Throughout the entire day yesterday (Jan.26) several youths with taped mouths and bearing placards paraded around the busier streets of downtown Basseterre. Written in bold red ink on the double-sided poster was “Silenced for too long. Time for change. Vote Labour out!”.

While some pedestrians laughed, pointed and teased the demonstrators, others applauded the political party’s ingenuity.

Deputy leader and lone Parliamentary representative for the opposition party Hon. Shawn Richards told SKNVibes that the public demonstration is a part of a total strategy of the party to force the general public to recognize that the government has been “silencing the people for far too long”.

“The persons who you are currently seeing with the placards and tape on their mouths are just sending out a strong message.
 
This initiative is as a result of the lack of access to the state-run media house ZIZ and it is necessary for us to employ this strategy since our messages cannot be carried through that medium. 

There are several ways through which we can send strong messages to the voters of St. Kitts-Nevis and this is just one way.

“The People’s Action Movement has employed a firm to assist us in terms of our marketing, and we are sending strong messages to the government and the people of the nation of our party’s stance.
 
We are all aware that this is an election year and so we have stepped up our drive in terms of our marketing and campaigning efforts.

“The ultimate goal is to win votes; we are hoping that when persons see the message, they would come to the realization that indeed they have been silenced by the Labour party and that it is time for a change.”

This form of silent demonstration follows last week’s passive protest with a chained car bearing a similar billboard: “Crime high under Labour. Always be prepared! Vote dem out! Time for Change!”  ~~Adz:Left~~

The vehicle was first seen parked in Challengers Village and subsequently around Basseterre and Sandy Point this past weekend. Richards indicated that many similar and other types of demonstrations would be employed in the near future.