BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EXECUTIVE member of the Unity Movement Clecton Phillip was last night (Jan. 4) arrested for alleged disorderly conduct whilst being a part of a protest group.
SKNVibes understands that members of the Unity Movement and some of its supporters held a protest exercise outside of the Marriott Hotel where Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzel Douglas’ 2014 New Year’s Gala was held.
Deputy Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM) Jonel Powell, who is one of the lawyers representing Phillip, told SKNVibes that he, his client and several other protesters, totalling between 15 and 20, were carrying out a “peaceful protest” against the Douglas-led administration when Phillip was arrested.
“We were demonstrating against the Prime Minister and his illegitimate government. Just before the Prime Minister and the Guest Speakers had arrived and after an incident free evening of protest, the Commissioner of Police charged out of the hotel and ordered all of his officers to either move persons demonstrating or arrest them. As a result of that exercise, Mr. Clecton Phillip, a businessman, was arrested.”
He continued: “At somewhere around 7:30-7:45 he literally stormed out and said move these people, and if you don’t move we will arrest you. Literally, he himself came out. I observed a conversation between him and Mr. Lindsay Grant and I went over. I believe it was along the line move or be arrested, and he enquired what was happening. His immediate reaction was not because you are loyal, I will arrest you too. I asked on what grounds and he said he doesn’t need grounds. He then turned to Mr. Grant and threatened to lock him up for three days.”
Powell said that the protesters carried placards and were in the vicinity of the hotel, but they were not disorderly.
“We were outside at all times not obstructing the road. We stayed some on the other side of the road, some on the sidewalks and we walked back and forth.”
He explained that the executive body of the Unity Movement had decided to launch the protest and claimed that the authorities must have gotten wind of their intention.
“We took a decision to protest and we mobilised people and we came out. They must have known some level of planning, and it wasn’t something that we were anticipating or planning.”
Powell claimed that they were protesting in an orderly manner and “there was no chanting or no cussing. We were just walking holding placards”.
One supporter told SKNVibes that “this incident is in retaliation of Friday’s planned meeting by the Unity Movement which was cancelled after one of the leading bands in the Federation held an impromptu street parade.
Phillip was seen at the Basseterre Police seated on a bench in the company of Attorney-at-Law and PAM’s Member of Parliament, Senator Vincent Byron Jr.
Powell told this publication that Phillip should have been processed last night and be able to make bail for release early in the morning.
