BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE streets of Basseterre were alight last evening (Nov. 25) as supporters of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) marched in their party’s gold colour to protest proposed boundary changes.
Sporting placards with disparaging phrases such as “Mr. PM, your time has expired!” and “I am confused – am I in constituency seven or eight?”, hundreds marched to the tune of PAM’s adopted campaign song “We Shall Not Be Moved”. They ventured from Greenlands Park along Cayon Street, down West Independence Square Street and onto Bank Street, where the stage was set for a massive rally.
By the end of the night, most of the PAM candidates had addressed the crowd, culminating with a presentation by Political Leader Lindsay Grant.
“The march is really to bring awareness to the government that the people in this country are dissatisfied with any boundary changes. I believe we had a successful march...we achieved what we set out to get – hundreds of people on the road in a peaceful demonstration,” Grant noted.
“I think people appreciate what we are trying to achieve, people appreciate that Parliament will dissolve on December 16, people appreciate that we have 20-something days in which people may see different candidates than the one they’ve been seeing for the past five years. Is that appropriate, is that right, is that just?” he asked passionately.
The Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) produced a report in July that outlined several changes to the electoral limits in St. Kitts. Claiming that the timing of the changes was unconstitutional, PAM took the government to court and was eventually successful in having the report overturned.
The CBC continued meeting after the judgement and is expected to construct another report in the near future. Prime Minster Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas has insisted he would fulfil his constitutional mandate of tabling such a report in Parliament if it were given to him.
Many expect that Douglas would lay a new CBC report during today’s (Nov. 26) session of Parliament. In a pre-emptive move, opposition Parliamentarians Hon. Mark Brantley and Hon. Shawn Richards brought a legal challenge on Tuesday (Nov. 24) against the Commission and asked for an injunction on its report until a judicial review is heard in the High Court.
At press time, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle had yet to make a decision on their application.
Grant highlighted the government’s “desperation” to have boundary changes at what he deemed “the 11th hour”.
“I’ve looked at Denzil Douglas and understood what he is about. Nothing will stop him from changing the boundaries short of the court,” said the PAM Leader.
“It is clear that people are fed-up and want the elections now.”
