BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the denial of permission for the people’s Action Movement (PAM) to hold a Protest March and Rally on Wednesday (Jun. 26) over the No Confidence Motion matter, Leader of the political party the Hon. Shawn Richards said he is going to march with a placard, but the police have informed that anyone found marching on that day would be arrested and prosecuted.
A police press release states, “The general public is advised that permission in relation to a request to hold a public march and procession along Church Street, Basseterre, on Wednesday 26 June, 2013, was denied.
“Accordingly, anyone found to be in violation of CHAPTER 19.11, The PUBLIC ORDER ACT, as it relates to this matter will be subject to arrest and prosecution for any such violation of the said law.”
It also states that particular attention is being drawn to Section 15 of the above mentioned Legislation which states that: “Any person who takes part in a public march or procession: (a) prohibited by section 8 of this Act; (b) in respect of which a permit has not been obtained; or (c) otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of a permit; commits an offence.
“Attention is also drawn to Section 16 of the Act as it clearly states that “Any person who organises or attempts to organise or incites any person to organise or take part in any public march in contravention of this Part of the Act commits an offence.”
The press release further states that the Security Forces stand ready to enforce the laws of the Federation and law abiding citizens are urged to conduct themselves accordingly.
According to the PAM, on May 29, 2013, a letter was sent to the police requesting permission to use a public address system to announce the party’s March and Rally scheduled for Wednesday (Jun. 26).
In response, Commissioner Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn said, “I wish to refer to your request to hold a March and Rally on Wednesday 26th June, 2013, at 4:30pm, starting at Greenlands and ending at Bank Street. Please be advised that your request cannot be accommodated at this time.”
The political party’s response to the Commissioner was, “We note from your letter that your reason for refusal is due to your activities with the Music Festival. This reason is very perplexing since it appears that you have given priority to musical entertainment over the people’s constitutional right to march. You also state that you cannot accede to our request in the interest of safety and safety.”
PAM’s letter also said, “Please note that we did not ask for any security. The request was for the use of a public address system and hi-fi. You were also given enough notice to make any arrangement you wish to make in relation to the few officers that normally attend our peaceful marches. It was our intention to incorporate a prayer vigil as part of our peaceful march; therefore, there was no reason to apprehend any serious disorder.”
The party also asked the Commissioner to “review your decision in the interest of the people’s constitutional rights”.
As a result of not being granted permission, Richards, at the party’s public meeting in Taylor’s Thursday, last, said he would be staging a one-man march through the streets of Basseterre.
“Come next week Wednesday I marching to Basseterre with a placard, because I got a message to send. I having my own march come next week Wednesday. Tell them send the army, send the police to look for me and see where I am going, because they say they don’t have any resources available. So I want to see when I marching next week Wednesday if army and police will be available.
“But it is time for serious action in this country. You want to tell me that because of a Music Festival people can’t get a protest march in this country? Total nonsense!”
Richards further said that whenever a peaceful march is organised by any group or political party, the police always avail themselves but same could not be done for the PAM.
He therefore questioned who pays the police to serve and protect the people of the Federation.
“It is we the taxpayers paying the police in this country and the police must be available to serve all of the people of this country. All of them…I ain’t want to mash up they town, but as a citizen of this country I must be able to walk and demonstrate in this country.”
Meanwhile, following Richards’ statement at the public meeting, Minister of Tourism the Hon. Richard Skerritt had accused Richards of trying to disrupt the Music Festival which commences on Thursday (Jun. 27).
But the PAM’s Deputy Leader Hon. Eugene Hamilton claimed that the Commissioner’s refusal to grant permission for the Protest March and Rally, the day before the Music Festival, has become politicised and that Skerritt has made the issue a political one by his recent comments on the airwaves.
“…Having regard to what Richard Skerritt said on the radio, you begin to question, ‘What’s going on here?’ Because Ricky Skerritt has politicised it. If the decision of the Police Commissioner was even up and up, and I believe it is, Richard Skerritt, by his language, has politicised it,” Hamilton said yesterday Jun. 22) on WINN FM’s ‘Issues Inside the News’ programme.
