By Saju Ng’alla
Depending on who was asked the annual Labour Day March was either a success or a failure.
“People came out,” said Talina Francis, who wore a red Labour Party shirt. She pointed to the number of people in the parade. “We got our numbers.”
The march started at about 11 a.m. on Monday, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesides of His Excellency Robert L. Bradshaw, C.A. Paul Southwell and Sir Joseph N. France.
More than 20 girls waving pom-poms led the parade through the streets of Basseterre. In the middle of the parade Labour Party leaders and supporters marched.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was Ronnie Rascal, providing the music for the parade.
“This march has been bigger than this in years past,” said Hoya. He declined to give his last name. He had on a yellow shirt, as he jammed behind Ronnie Rascal’s trailer. “Labour supporters did not come out. You can tell they are not happy with how things are.”
Francis said that was not the case. She agreed in the past the march has been bigger. She said a lot of people did turn out to the march and that more could have participated in the march.
She said complacency was the reason why some people did not come out to participate in the march.
“If this was an election year, you would see nothing but red,” Francis said. “But people still came out. People should stop lying and call a spade a spade.”
Also in the March was Leilani Jonelle Rawlins, the People’s Action Movement candidate for constituency No. 6, which runs from Newton Ground to Harris.
Flanked with other PAM supporters, Rawlins jammed through the streets of Basseterre.
“I enjoyed myself,” Rawlins said. “They said this is a worker’s march. Well, I’m a worker and I have a right to be out here too.”
The march ended on the Patsey Allers Playing Field. On the field, a number of DJs, including the Grand Masters provided music into the early morning of Tuesday.
On Monday afternoon the village area was jammed with people, with the field and PAM’s headquarters brimming over with people.
At the PAM’s headquarters a Kid’s World was created, with various rides and games for children. A children’s fashion show was also held.
