BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HAVING been refused permission to have a portion of Fort Street blocked to facilitate the official opening of its Headquarters, the Unity Movement is alleging that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, or one or more of its members, is making attempts to thwart the hosting of the event.
Leader of the Unity Movement the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris - who spoke with SKNVibes yesterday afternoon (June 24) - explained that the team sought permission in writing to use noisy instruments and have the road blocked to accommodate the event which is slated to take this afternoon (Jun. 25) at the top of Fort Street.
The event was advertised to feature the Nu Vybes Band International, alias ‘The Sugar Band’.
He said the written communication was delivered to the police over one week ago and “the latest information that we have had basically suggested that the police are discriminating against Team Unity, and it appears that the police have been directed to thwart the opening of our Campaign Headquarters tomorrow”.
Dr. Harris informed that - via Deputy Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd - information was relayed to Team Unity that permission was granted to use noisy instruments but not for the blockage of the road.
Contrary to Harris’ claim however, DCP Liburd told SKNVibes that permission was sought to have a live band and to have the road blocked and permission for both was denied.
Asked about his views on Harris’ claims of alleged police’s discrimination against Team Unity and the alleged police’s attempt to thwart the hosting of the event, DCP Liburd said he would make no further comment on the matter.
“I am not prepared to go any further at this moment. I will not comment nor add to that except to say that the police have not granted permission to block the street.”
According to Harris, not only is this action discriminatory, but it constitutes a breach of the Unity Team’s constitutional rights. He also said “there is ample precedence in recent times of which streets have been blocked to accommodate activities...
“As recent as Saturday, for example, Central Street was blocked to accommodate an activity of entertainment value. In January of this year the police did block Central Street to accommodate the Hon. Marcella Liburd in the opening of her Campaign Headquarters, allowed her to erect a stage in the public road. And so we are seeing this as being a discriminatory action contrary to the constitutional provision that there be no discrimination against persons on account of politics.”
Dr. Harris described Unity’s request as “reasonable” and noted that the event would be held today, commencing at about 5:30 p.m.
