BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-THE tension of the long road to the 2010 general elections carried over into the villages of Constituency Number Four yesterday (Jan. 25) as supporters of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and the People’s Action Movement (PAM) clashed feverishly at times.
The constituency was contested by PAM Political Leader Lindsay Grant and the SKNLP’s new candidate for the area, Glen ‘Ghost’ Phillip, who replaces incumbent Rupert Herbert. Both parties had a strong ground presence from their supporters throughout the day.
While some areas carried out the electoral process in a relatively peaceful manner over the 11-hour period, including polling station 1at the Challengers Community Centre and station 4 at the Grace Gospel Hall in Middle Island, other areas came to the edge of violence several times.
Rain had fallen in the first part of the morning, but as it abated voters began to gather in the traditionally SKNLP-supportive village of Old Road.
PAM officials outside of polling station 2B at the Old Road Police Station clashed with Labour supporters early in the morning, complaining that persons who had never lived in the area were voting there. Wielding video cameras, the PAM operatives said that they planned to have evidence of what they believed to be violations of a free and fair election.
The situation eventually resolved itself after some heated words and voters soon returned to peacefully waiting in the ever-growing lines.
Conflict then erupted again in the early afternoon at polling station 5, located at the Half Way Tree Community Centre.
Though the voters conducted themselves in an orderly manner, supporters of both the SKNLP and PAM launched into angry verbal attacks on one another, stating that persons who had no connection to Constituency Number Four had shown up to vote.
According to PAM supporters on the scene, persons from St. Pauls had shown up to vote and caused a clash that eventually culminated with members of the Police, Army and Strike Force being forced to mediate.
“They can’t come here and vote where they never lived,” one PAM supporter complained. “Not this time. It’s not going to happen this time!”
Meanwhile, SKNLP supporters became enraged when they reportedly witnessed PAM Party Spokesman Chesley Hamilton and his wife arrive at the polling station to cast their votes.
The conflict ended at words alone, but it would not be the last time the polling station in Half Way Tree would be a point of contention.
Just after 4:30 p.m., the arrival of incumbent Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas stirred emotions on both sides of the political spectrum. As Douglas checked with his party’s agents at the station to see how many votes they believed Phillip had received for the day, arguments escalated to new heights and were only brought under control by a second intervention from security forces.
The momentary peace was broken when Douglas attempted to cross through the lawn of the Community Centre to reach his vehicle and encountered Grant. The two political leaders briefly launched verbal barbs at one another and supporters from both parties poured past the security forces to back their sides.
Angry shouting and some shoving continued for a brief period before members of the Police Force and Strike Force were able to herd the party supporters away from one another and bring the situation under enough order that voting could continue.
The quarrelling between parties not only disrupted the electoral proceedings, but also caused massive traffic jams in the Old Road and Half Way Tree areas for much of the day.
Despite being one of the most tense and passionate battles of all the constituencies in St. Kitts, no injuries are believed to have been sustained throughout the day in Number Four and polling was successfully completed without any major obstruction.
