by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): A march spearheaded by Jefroy Morrishaw was held on Thursday, February 17 in the capital city, Basseterre.
The organiser told WINN Media a day prior that the purpose of the march was to support the police, following an altercation between Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant and officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. The incident occurred at the Last Lap Bar in early January.
The solidarity march commenced at about 3 p.m. with just a few demonstrators and media personnel. However, as the demonstrators made rounds through the heart of Basseterre, it attracted scores of people. Some were calling for justice to be meted out against Minister Grant, while others called for Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris to ensure that the matter is dealt with appropriately.
The leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Terrence Drew joined demonstrators at West Independence Square Street where he too voiced his opinion on the matter between Minister Grant and the police.
“Look at what we have here; a police officer who would have carried out her duty, carried out the very law that Mr. Grant had the opportunity to put in place; she acted professionally. She demanded that the protocols be respected. There are people in St. Kitts and Nevis who today can’t pay their mortgages, who can’t send their children to school because they had to respect the protocols. There are businesses that were shut down. So, how is it that a minister can expect some sort of special privilege under the law? He should have been the one to up-keep the law more than anyone else here in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Dr. Drew denounced threats against police calling it a wrongdoing and insisted that justice be served.
“We are saying it is wrong for anybody to threaten the police. It is wrong for a Minister of Government to use threatening words. We heard the words on the tape and that is what we are speaking about; and so today, I am asking that justice be served. You cannot be given special privileges under the law. All of us here in St. Kitts and Nevis have to respect the law. Had it been you, had it been me, we would have known the consequences of disrespecting the law and therefore we are asking that justice be served in this case.”
The Leader of the Labour Party recalled his silent protest at the Government Headquarters in January and explained that the people of the Federation have a right to demonstrate.
“You can recall that I went and I demonstrated in front of the Government Headquarters because I wanted to say to you, the people of St.Kitts and Nevis, that you have the right to demonstrate, to exercise that right and nobody should frustrate that right.”
Dr. Drew said Thursday’s demonstration was not about politics, but it was about equal rights and justice and standing in support of the police. He, therefore, called on the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon Dr. Timothy Harris to come before the people and clear the air on the matter.
“I’m calling on Timothy Harris, nobody else, but the Prime Minister Timothy Harris. He is the Prime Minister, the Head of Cabinet; he is the one who appoints people to their position as Ministers of Government. He is the Minister of National Security, so he cannot look to anybody else. This rests squarely at his feet. Where is the investigation that was carried out? When will we know the results of that investigation? We are waiting on the Prime Minister.”
The Labour Party leader also called for Justice for Minister Grant.
“I want to say today that I even want justice for Mr. Grant. I don’t want Mr. Grant to be treated unfairly under the law either. He too deserves justice, but the other police officers and St. Kitts in general, we too deserve justice.”
