(Kingstown, St Vincent) On Thursday, the St Vincent government deployed different branches of the security forces in the capital city of Kingstown, where an anti-government protest was carried out for the second day in front of the parliament building.
On Tuesday, security forces were heavily armed. However, on Thursday, it was the reversal with police carrying batons in the place of guns.
While protesters say many issues affect the country, the primary catalyst for protest is the case where Government Senator Ashelle Morgan and the island Assistant DPP Karim Nelson were charged after 60-year-old Cornelius John was left with a bullet wound following an incident at his home on April 13th.
The case, which was down for hearing on Monday 5th, would now be heard on August 17th. The victim who was beaten and shot was slapped with three charges.
With full support from the island’s main opposition party, Rise Hairouna, a social justice group that organized the demonstrations, said on their Facebook page.
“It’s your duty as a Vincentian to take your country back.” We will not stop until justice prevails. We will not stop until people are treated fairly. We will not stop until the victimization is over. We will not stop until accountability is given. We will not stop until we have our country back! NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”!
Andy Williams, a farmer, told News784, “The law is only for one side; if you don’t support the government, you can count it all lost when it comes to justice.”
Flavia Neverson, a 17-year-old student, demonstrating in the capital Kingstown, said, “It’s becoming awful. I hope Mr John gets justice. I can’t wait to vote in the next election. I will cast my vote to ensure that the government leaves office.”
St Vincent’s Opposition leader Dr Godwin Friday who led protesters through the streets of Kingstown, chanting “No Justice No Peace,” said that his party, the NDP, would support anyone willing to pull back the country from the precipice it’s hanging on.
On Wednesday, in a video posted on Facebook, Friday urge Vincentians to steer the course to return to genuine democracy and called for fresh elections.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and recently voiced concerns about violence in the Tigray region and called on Ethiopia to “thoroughly investigate the atrocities.”
