BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – POLICE COMMISSIONER Austin Williams confirmed the illegality of an impromptu march staged by the leaders and supporters of St. Kitts’ main opposition party, the People’s Action Movement (PAM).
According to the top cop, the Public Order Act 1969 requires the organisers of any march to receive his/her permission before it is held. Speaking exclusively to SKNVibes, Williams said no permission had been sought by or granted to the PAM directorate for such an event.
“No application was filed or granted,” said the Commissioner. “The force has no current intentions of charging the march’s organisers but we are keeping our options open.”
The incident in question occurred on Wednesday night (July 8) when an estimated crowd of 250 PAM supporters marched from the party’s Constituency Two Office and converged in front of Government Headquarters to protest the proposed boundary changes. Shortly after their arrival, members of the Strike Force and other police officers arrived to monitor the situation.
However, PAM Political Leader Lindsay Grant denied claims of a march and said he had merely walked from his party’s Constituency Two office to Church Street. He said he was aware that persons had followed him but argued he could not be held accountable for their actions.
“If the police decide to go ahead with charges, then the court will decide on the matter. But I did not have a march. I simply walked from one place to the other. I am not responsible for those who followed me,” Grant insisted.
“The issues of democracy and justice that my party is fighting for are bigger than any march or the police response to it. If the process of electoral reform and boundary changes had been conducted fairly, the government would not be receiving the backlash and embarrassment that it is now,” he added.
The alleged march was just one form of resistance undertaken by PAM since the move to change the boundaries became imminent. The party has filed three injunctions over the past two weeks, all of which were aimed at preventing the Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission from being passed into law.
The government, and especially its Leader, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, has remained firm in its stance to contest the upcoming general elections in adherence with the new boundaries. On Thursday (July 9), a resolution on the Commission’s Report was approved and taken to the Governor-General (His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian) for his signature.
However, due to one of the injunctions, the Supervisor of Elections and the Electoral Commission are restrained from supervising any elections with the new boundaries until the case is heard and decided upon in the High Court. Consideration of the matter continues today (July 14).
