BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN defiance of the Commissioner of Police refusal to grant the People’s Action Movement (PAM) permission for a March and Rally, the Executive body of the political party said that they would still be marching this afternoon (Jun. 26).
The March and Rally, according to the Leader of the PAM, Hon. Shawn Richards, is in protest of the almost six months delay in the tabling of the No Confidence Motion in the Federal House of Assembly.
At a press conference yesterday, Richards said it was brought to their attention that a conversation among the Commissioner of Police and his Senior Officers suggested that the police were in training with Internal Security gears and equipment as part of their plan to subvert the protest march.
Richards however declared that they would be engaging in a “Health March” this afternoon beginning at 4:00 from Greenlands and is urging residents and citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis to go out dressed in white in support of the march.
From this backdrop, SKNVibes has organised a media watch in downtown Basseterre with the aim of sensitising visitors to its site on activities leading up to, during and after the march.
3:44 p.m. – STOP PRESS!! THE MARCH IS ON!! SKNVibes was just told by the the Hon. Shawn Richards, Leader of the People’s Action Movement, that permission was recently given to his party to hold the march this afternoon.
3:11 p.m. – A young man said the march should be allowed “because it is part of our freedom and right. I am not marching because I heard of it too late and I have things to do”.
3:05 p.m. – “Dey could march til dey bleed, Labour gon run de country. No Unity gon work here,” said a member of the Party Spot Bar.
3:01 p.m. – “Lawd ah bawling, ah hungry, ah don’t know what ah going eat tomorrow. Ah want a change. Tell Douggie please step down. Leh we try Unity because unity is strength,” one ferry terminal regular told this publication.
2:57 p.m. – At the ferry terminal, a man, who claims to be a visitor to St. Kitts, said he agrees with the march once it is done in a peaceful manner. He was however quick to note that he would not be participating.
2:44 p.m. – Strong Labour supporter dressed in red shirt, red tights and a jean pants said, “They better don’t march or else war.”
2:05 p.m. - At the Circus, taxi operator Walford Arthurton said he would be leading the march and he would not be marching "for that big word 'No Confidence'...I will be marching to get out de thiefing bastard bandit. He is the devil himself".
1:59 p.m. - A female adult said she would not be on the march because she does not want to be arrested. She also said that she does not know why they are marching because "people going still vote where they want".
1:54 p.m. - Speaking with three young men, one of them who is on the PEP Programme said, "Me ain't playing with Labour 'cause they not paying me and they does lock me up for no reason at all. So if PAM marching I marching." Another one said, "Is war going be in town because Labour ain't want PAM win election."
1:47 p.m. – In a conversation between two men at a bus stop, one of them strongly believes that the police could not stop the people from marching because “they ain’t loitering”.
1:45 p.m. – A mentally challenged man, who was at the ferry terminal, was asked if he would be marching today. He boldly responded, “No! Only if something was sharing to eat.”
1:42 p.m. – Speaking with a nurse at the ferry terminal, she said that she would not be marching because she is intelligent and “somebody is going to be locked up”.
12:38 p.m. - A male in Fort Street declared that he would not be marching but "we need a change".
12:31 p.m. - Carlton Dupont was seen in Frigate Bay and he claimed that he was there to check out PAM's protest at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel.
12:20 p.m. - A man on Port Zante was overheard saying that he would not be marching today because "I ain't want no police to tear gas me".
11:52 a.m. - A young woman told this publication that "right now I don't study politics, because all politicians are the same".
11:50 a.m. - A group of over 20 persons, including PAM's Leader Shawn Richards, Lindsay Grant, Jonel Powell and Cindy Deming, are currently protesting with placards in front of the Royal St. Kitts Hotel where the Opening Ceremony of the Taiwan-St. Kitts and Nevis Trade Show 2013 is being held.
11:48 a.m. - A woman was overheard telling a female entrepreneur in Fort Street to close her business place because "there will be confusion this afternoon".
11:21 a.m. - Three males were observed in Church Street discussing the march. Two of them are known supporters of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party. One was dressed in a bright red shirt and another in a Polo shirt with red rings. One of the men said, "They have people confused. I was saying since it was a Health March I got a lil blood pressure I was going to go. But now I hear is a march to disturb the Music Festival and the country and I decided that it is not worthwhile."
11:41 a.m. - A man stated he is not for or against the march, but if the people feel that they need to march for democracy, then so be it. He declared that he would remain at home and give God thanks.
11:27 a.m. - Chad Chiverton, nephew of Halva Hendrickson, said he intends to join the march in an attempt to stop the people from marching, and that his "red shirt will kill them because I am 10-man in one."
11:19 a.m. - PLP's Chairman Douglas Wattley said he is going to participate in the Prayer Vigil.
11:18 a.m. - A woman attired in her 'Full Confidence' shirt said they should wait aftered Music Festival to have their protest.
11:10 a.m. – A gentleman said he is getting money from the PEP Programme but he is still going to march. He also said that he does not care if he is victimised. "I am going to take their money and march against them," he added.
11:00 a.m. – Bungo and Kelston said they are not going to march, but instead walk to a demonstration. They also said that tomorrow they would be marching.
10:47 a.m. – “If PAM says march, walk, fly, I am there. I am going to march! My name is Mr. Magoo."
10:46 a.m. - Either unconcerned or afraid of making a statement, an elderly woman when questioned about the march, said, “I really am going to open my shop.”
10:46 a.m. - A hairdresser said she is closing her salon early because she is going out in her red and she wants to see who would interfere with her.
10:45 a.m. – Heavy police presence seen in downtown Basseterre.
10:42 a.m. - A young lady dressed from head to toes in white said she is ready for the march.
10:39 a.m. - A taxi operator said he is aware of the march this afternoon but has not yet decided whether he would march or not.
10:33 a.m. – “You can't allow persons to infringe upon your civil rights and liberties. In light of that, they should march,” a teacher told SKNVibes.
10:30 a.m. – Calypso Reggie inviting persons to go to the march starting at Greenlands at 4:00 p.m.
10:23 a.m. - A young woman said she would not be marching because she has to work, but strongly agreed with those who have decided to march. She said, “They can't lock up everybody.”
10:18 a.m. - A female, questioned by this media house about the march, said she is oblivious about it and indicated that if there is to be a march, it is of no concern to her.
10:11 a.m. - As scattered showers descend, activities along Church Street appear normal as opposed to yesterday about the same time when a one-man protest/demonstration was held.
10:09 a.m. - An individual is encouraging persons to go to the march, noting that it is for a good cause.
9:35 a.m. - Austin Edinborough said he does not know if the march would come off because permission was denied by the Commissioner of Police. He also said that PAM and the PLP are trying to drum up support that they do not have and if the march comes off the police would have to be prepared.
9:25 a.m. – A group of individuals on the Bay Road in Basseterre, comprising mainly of male senior citizens, are of the view that the police could not do anything about the march. However, one of them said, “Douggie has all the say and me is Labour all me life.” He also highlighted a number of the good things that the government did under PM Douglas and that Shawn Richards is only trying to cause confusion.
