BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DETERMINED to stop the swapping of 1 200 acres of land for debt owed, the People's Action Movement (PAM), along with supporters of this cause, would be taking to the streets of Basseterre in protest of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (Vesting in Certain Lands) Bill.
The protest is expected to take place next week Thursday (Nov. 22) starting at Greenlands at 4:30 p.m.
SKNVibes spoke with the newly-elected leader of PAM, Shawn Richards, who explained the purpose of the protest.
"The protest is being held to send a message to the government that the citizens of this country are not in favour of the stint of land being given to National Bank, and this is a Bill that we would like to have repealed."
Richards said that that is the major reason for the protest but they are also protesting their dissatisfaction with the overall performance of the Labour government, noting that there are persons who have other concerns and they too are invited to join in the protest.
"Whether their concerns are about the high electricity rate, whether it is about the lack of employment opportunities, whether it is about the lack of transparency or accountability in government, one is invited to protest for whatever reason he or she has against the government," he said.
The protest, he added, would take the form of a march which is expected to kick off at Greenlands and travel towards Basseterre.
Richards said the party hopes to march left across Cayon Street, right onto Church Street, left onto Liverpool Row, left up Fort Street, right onto Cayon Street, and right onto West Independence Square Street before coming to a halt on Bank Street.
Richards also said that PAM had been having a number of pre-protest activities in the form of Town Hall Meetings, media releases, handing out of flyers and whistle stops, the first of which would be held this Wednesday (Nov. 14).
Richards is urging one and all to come out on November 22 and join the march and send a message that they would not stand by and watch their lands be given away.
"We have to send a message to the government that persons are not pleased with their lands being vested in National Bank. We wish for the lands to be given to the people. We want to have this Bill repealed," Richards said.
