BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A group of individuals launched a peaceful protest earlier this morning just outside the entrance to the property of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), where the 78th meeting of the Monetary Council is being held.
The individuals - who were fitted with placards - began assembling sometime after 8:00 a.m. and remained until all the attending delegates had entered the premises via their assigned vehicles.
The group consisted of Leader of the Unity Movement the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, UNITY members Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, Jonel Powell, Lindsay Grant, the Hon. Sam Condor, the Hon. Shawn Richards, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton and followers of the movement.
“Time Up Douglas... Get Out”, “Douglas is illegitimate 5<6”, “Time for a good leader”, “Motion of No Confidence or Resign”, “No Democracy No Peace”, “Douglas must Go” and “Douglas is illegitimate and he has to go” were some of the writings displayed on the placards.
Dr. Harris told SKNVibes that the protest is armed at bringing awareness to the national and regional community about what he describes as the the deterioration of democracy in the Federation.
“Basically we are here protesting against the breach in democracy that is taking place in the country. We now have the judgment from the court...and in that judgment he (the judge) spells out how it works in a constitutional democracy. He has indicated quite clearly there is no impediment to the hearing of the Motion of No Confidence and in that regard, we believe that the Speaker and the government need to meet expeditiously to bring the Motion of No Confidence before the people and let their representatives decide.
“...We are demanding that this be done. We have come here today because of course there is a meeting at the ECCB and we believe that the colleague governments have an opportunity to use moral suasion and bring an end to this breach of democracy that is taking place in St. Kitts and Nevis. What is happening here is an abomination and it sets a bad precedent throughout the region. We are therefore here in a peaceful picketing exercise to ensure that people are aware of the injustice and the breach in democracy which is taking taking place.”
In excess of 10 police officers - inclusive of three gazetted officers - were on the scene to ensure that order was maintained and a section of the road outside of the ECCB was blocked from vehicular traffic.
Public Relations Officer of the Police Force Inspector Lyndon David requested that the group remove themselves from the “sterile area”. Inquiries by members of the group about the meaning of the expression “sterile area” were unanswered by David and the group stood their ground.
“They asked us to move...beyond the railway. I am not Harriet Tubman to be crossing no railway. I am not doing anything illegal. I’m staying here. I am not doing anything illegal, Heads of Government have passed in, we’ve had officials passing in, we’ve not obstructed them, we’ve not distracted them, we’ve not done anything. And I have not done anything illegal and I’m not moving! This is my fundamental and constitutional right to stand here,” Jonel Powell told this publication.
Superintendent Terrance James - who was also on the scene - addressed the crowd and indicated that yes, they have the right to engage in peaceful picketing but an issue arose when, according to the officer, some members of the group proceeded into the roadway as a vehicle was passing. The crowd vehemently denied this allegation.
An obviously annoyed crowd eventually left the area.
In addition to the protest, Team Unity - SKNVibes is advised - held a public meeting at midday today at the C. A. Paul Industrial Site.
