BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THREE individuals are each on $15,000 bail after being charged in connection with last Friday’s (Aug. 20) protest, and Dr. Denzil Douglas noted that it appeared as if the police were instructed to deliberately escalate the incident.
Media reports confirmed that the three individuals were charged with Taking part in a Public Procession without Permission from the Police, Breach of the Peace, Willful Obstruction, Obstructing a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, and Malicious Damage.
Some of those charges in were connection with a march that took place on August 2.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party reported that the Director of Public Prosecution noted his intent to withdraw the charges for the August 2 incident at the appropriate time, as there is not sufficient evidence to proceed.
A large crowd had gathered on Church Street last Friday (Aug. 20) and was met with force by members of the Police and Defence Forces.
Some members of the crowd held placards denouncing the forced vaccination.
Later in that evening, reports suggested that the police released tear gas to disperse the protesters in downtown Basseterre.
Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Denzill Douglas said he is relieved that the trio has been released on bail after being held without bond all weekend.
“Recalling the incident that took place on Friday afternoon into the evening, it appears as if the police were instructed to deliberately escalate the incident with the planned attempts to release tear gas. We have been reliably informed that Corporal Haywood of the Royal St. Christopher & Nevis Police Force must have been given instructions to release tear gas on the peaceful crowd of persons who were exercising their basic constitutional rights,” Dr. Douglas added.
