On Tuesday June 10, 2014, former St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party government Minister Mr. Dwyer Astaphan went through great lengths to speak to the facts as he knows them regarding the events that took place on St. Kitts on June 10, 1967. In one of the most emphatic presentations on radio in recent times, the Operation Rescue activist challenged his listeners to deeply examine their consciences and assess where we came from as a former British colony, where we are as an independent nation today and where our projected path for a truly prosperous democracy lies tomorrow. One hour after his presentation had commenced, the former minister had educated an entire listening audience.
Where We Were
Astaphan burst out of the gates very early in his presentation declaring without reservation that an unfortunate occurrence on June 10, 1967 caused quite a stir on the island of St. Kitts and in the region for that matter. He stated that throughout the years, various accounts of the June 10, 1967 have been proffered by the two main political parties on St. Kitts. Astaphan suggested that while some find it difficult to accept, there was in fact an attempt to forcefully remove Premier Bradshaw as leader of the Government. It seems the disenchanted Anguillans felt justified in their decision to spearhead such an undertaking.
There were several reasons for the Anguillans proclaimed disenchantment with Premier Bradshaw including a widely held view that Bradshaw no longer had their interest at heart. For some Anguillans, the Tri-state arrangement hurt rather than helped their advancement. They wanted out!
Prominent Anguillan authors Colville Petty and Nat Hodge as well as Anguilla former Chief Minister, Mr. Ronald Webster and others have documented accounts of what allegedly happened 47 years ago. According to Webster, those sympathetic to the Anguillans cause in Anguilla joined him for fear that Premier Bradshaw would in fact attack Anguilla first. Sympathizers on St. Kitts were alleged to have aligned with the Anguillans and the PAM party was called out as the political associates of the Anguillans who were willing partners.
The almost 47-year old scar has left a profound distaste for the opposition by many who supported Premier Bradshaw and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party. June 10, 1967 has been peddled as a reason to oppose PAM and any political entity that opposes the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party. It is now written in history that any attempt to remove Premier Bradshaw was ultimately foiled. The wounds have not healed for all citizens who were alive at that time, but since the 1967 event, many have examined the leadership of key players from either of the main political sides in St. Kitts and have time and again put aside loyalty to Labour or to PAM and have voted based on the country's economic and social health as well as it's projected path.
Where We Are Now!
During his June 10, 2014 radio program, Astaphan made the point that in 1980, thirteen years after June 10 1967, constituents in Central Basseterre were not deterred by the events of 1967. In fact, many of them campaigned heavily for the PAM and for the first time in the history of St. Kitts and Nevis, a new political party under the leadership of Dr. Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds descended on Church Street, Basseterre. He continued that even with the cloud of June 10, 1967 hanging over its head, 1984 and 1989 saw a return to power of the PAM party. The issues on which PAM eventually lost in 1995 following two years of unrest in 1993 had little or nothing to do with June 10, 1967.
Claims of corruption by the then Labour Party opposition prompted the electorate to pay closer attention to the PAM government and the deck of cards stacked against them eventually fell when in 1993, the masses in a show of "people power," demonstrated its opposition to the PAM government following a dead heat election.
Fast forward to 2014, which has been prefaced by over 15 years of blatant corruption, Astaphan made the point that the current SKNLP has gone against the grain of the Bradshaw led SKNLP which was truly about the people and uplifting the poor and society's downtrodden.
Almost fifty years since June 10, 1967, the current political leaders are well aware that there is an enormous price ALL citizens of the federation will pay if political violence ensues in our tiny and fragile nation. We are an interconnected people, bound by blood. The pains of one are the pains of all.
Despite the many delaying tactics by the incumbents, including the non-tabling of the MONC, advocates committed to reshaping St. Kitts and Nevis do not relish in seeing the federation destroyed and are not interested in a reoccurrence of 1967 or 1993 which continues to be a wedge in many relationships 47 and 20 years later. Astaphan stated unequivocally that we must commit to healing in order to move the nation forward. Given our vulnerable tourism product and our tightly knit communities, we are better as a nation working together than we working apart.
Reshaping Our Future
The modern day issues which the electorate faces require the attention of all politicians. They ought to initiate consistent dialogue and collaboration between the people and those who offer themselves for leadership. The people's fear about crime, employment, VAT, astronomical electricity and Cable TV rates as well as their well founded concerns about the sale of our passports, the abuse of the SIDF, constitutional reform, term limits, set election dates, electoral and constitutional reform and maladministration are only some of the ever present issues that gravely affect the electorate.
There would never have been a discussion about a Unity alternative had the current administration at the very least "appeared to be" transparent in its function as a sitting government. The actions of several key government officials have prompted some of its strongest supporters to cry FOUL and whistle blowers stand ready to do it all over again regardless of who leads the nation. Blatant wrong cannot be obscured.
On June 10, 1967, an unfortunate day in our history occurred. However, Mr. Astaphan articulated clearly that current issues which the electorate faces will not be swept under the carpet in order to render a corrupt government a free pass for its failings in leadership. The unapologetic radio talk show host opined that blaming June 10 1967 to save its political skin is but one of the strategies the incumbents continue to tout in order to remain in power.
Dwyer Astphan, former Government Minister and social activist demonstrated in his well organized presentation that the federation's future does not require a hard nose approach. The tools are already there! Those charged with the responsibility of "resetting the political" clock must willingly commit to the service of the people.
History has shown that through the power of the vote, the people will mercilessly punish any leader who places himself, his family and his friends before the nation he vowed to serve.
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