By L.K. Hewlett
St. Kitts Reporter
Over one thousand persons turned out to the People’s Action Movement (PAM) March for Democracy on Thursday, many wielding placards that read ‘One Man, One Vote’.
PAM leader Lindsay Grant led the massive procession as it snaked its way along Cayon Street and down past the Government Headquarters on Church Street.
Word on the street was that although the approved route had included Church Street, a blockade had been erected at the corner of Church and Central Streets to prevent the procession passing the federal building that houses the Prime Minister’s office. By the time the crowd had reached the junction however, there were no obstructions and they were allowed to make their way down the street.
Law enforcement officers dressed in special blue uniforms that read ‘Police’ across the shirt backs, lined the front entrance of the government stronghold. There was full police presence amongst the demonstrators and walking the route, including traffic top cop Inspector Venetta Wyatt and other officers clad in Inspector uniforms.
The march was kept festive by the Antiguan band Burning Flames, who were told that they could not play their music on that street.
The crowd congregated in front of the Government Headquarters chanting ‘we want fingerprints’ ‘one man one vote’ and other slogans and waving placards in the air.
The streets along the route were lined with onlookers as early as 3 pm as the march was scheduled to start at 3:30p.m. Some said they were surprised that the march was so large.
“I was shocked at the turn out. I really never expect to see so many people marching. I even saw kids holding up signs. Most of the people were not wearing PAM shirts, they were there simply to march for what they felt was their rights as citizens of this country I think this is an indication of the change in the political climate. People are turned off by the present government and they are not hiding their displeasure,” a woman named Denise told The Observer.
An older gentleman wearing a large sign on his front insisted his picture be taken for as he said ‘I old now, they cant spite me any more’.
“Labour muss be shaking in they shoes right now. They people had a lot to say bout PAM march gone barely have anybody. They spies all over tekkin people picture and video taping us but we ain fraid a them no more… they got to go,” he shouted.
Grant, along with fellow PAM candidates Chesley Hamilton, Glen Blanchette and parliamentary representative Hon. Sean Richards were at the front of the march, leading the way up Fort Street, down West Independence Square Street and culminating on Bank Street sometime after 6 p.m. A huge rally followed as the candidates took to the makeshift stage erected on Bank Street, and the band played on.
