BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SEVERAL messages were sent to the Government yesterday (May 4) by the participants of the annual Labour Day March.
Albeit traditional, it is the first time in the past 20 years that the march has been held with the People’s Labour Party and Team Unity Leader Dr. the Hon. Timothy S. Harris at the helm of the country, having won in the February 16, 2015 General Elections.
The format and route which the march took were customary in nature, beginning at the Patsy Allers Playfield, flowing down Central Street, down Fort Street, onto Bank Street then South Independence Square and George Streets. It next went to Sandown Road then onto Pond Road and Cayon Street and culminated at the point of origin.
The march begin with a fairly-large crowd and gained considerable momentum as it got onto its second leg.
Expressing concerns and addressing issues with the aid of a microphone were the Hon. Marcella Liburd, the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Two and Chairman of the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), and the party’s Constituency Number Eight representative, Dr. Terrance Drew.
Liburd made a call for the Government to launch an investigation into the state of affairs of the country over the past 20 years, if the sitting Government indeed feels that the affairs were mismanaged during that period.
Although the leadership of the country changed hands less than three months ago, she called for it to be changed again, suggesting that Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Shawn Richards should spearhead that move.
Both Liburd and Drew echoed the claims made by the SKNLP since the change in administration. They accused the Government of victimising individuals, particularly civil servants, by firing them without just cause.
Drew described it as a “wicked policy of victimisation” while Liburd saw it as “political victimisation”.
Drew called for the marchers to raise their hands in support of “Labour and equal justice for all” and in rebellion against “vindictiveness”.
Several marchers held placards, some of which read “Victimisations? No!! Tim”, “Fair play for all not only your family!”, “Nepotism no!! Tim”, “Put an end to victimisation”, “Tourist ships gone with the wind” and “St. Kitts at a standstill”.
The march was led by pompom girls and behind them were hundreds of individuals jamming to the sounds of the Nu Vybes Band Int’l.
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