BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE traditional Labour Day March held today (May 2) took the form of a call for individuals to rally against what they believe to be the ills brought on by the fledgling Team Unity Administration.
After the customary wreath-laying ceremony at Springfield Cemetery and a bout of rainfall, participants of the march left the Patsy Allers Playfield and followed the regular route through the streets of Basseterre before ending at the starting point.
In several countries across the world, Labour Day, observed on the first Monday in May, is used to recognise the achievements and or plight of workers.
Former Prime Minister and Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) the Hon. Dr. Denzil L Douglas was one of the individuals who addressed marchers along the route and during his presentation dubbed the event a “protest march”.
Dr. Douglas suggested that although some dishonesty was involved during the February 2015 election which resulted in the government being taken from his party, “we nevertheless, responsible as we are as a people, came out of office. After 14 months we say to the world, ‘Look at them! Look at them!’”
The SKNLP Leader, who also functions as the Opposition Leader in the Federal Parliament, challenged the marchers and onlookers to strike a comparison between the policies of his administration and the Team Unity Administration.
“Look at where we are with regard to the policies that Labour had in place. The children, they were receiving their laptop computers because Labour had a progressive policy with regard to computer literacy of our nation, with little expense to the parents of our children. Labour said it would bear the brunt of all of these, but what happened in the end? Labour was out of office and the policies have been destroyed.”
Several marched in silence, allowing the placards they carried to speak for them. Some of these placards read:
“Thank you Labour for elevating me!! I am a proud supporter!!!
“Marching because it is my fundamental right! Look how they are victimizing our people…cant be right!!!
“ME NAR HUSH!!”
“You sell out the country for $500.00”
“We are the workers!! We are the masses!!”
“Let us take back we government”
“No weapon formed against me shall prosper”
Interestingly however, at the very head of the march was an individual whose double-sided placard carried messages which appeared to oppose the aforementioned.
Near the end of the march, Dr. Douglas lamented that the current administration would be removed from office “by whatever means necessary…once it is within the confines of the law”.
“We will always be here for you. We will always be here because Labour for the last 83 years has been working in the interest of our people…And that is why I say to you they cannot last for long. Deception cannot prevail over truth and what is right. Wrong cannot forever trample what is right. It may succeed for a moment but definitely not forever. And today I say to you, Labour has mobilized its forces, Labour will now make sure that the forces at the constituency level, they are mobilized as well.
“We will take back this government on behalf of the people and for the people. Labour will be back! Labour will be back and no one can stop us from being back because God knows that when we left office it was on the note of deception…”
