This is according to a press release issued by Operation Future, organiser of the 15th April, 2011 Freedom march. In the release, Operation Rescue thanked supporters for their assistance in planning and their participation in the event.
Shortly after 4:00 that afternoon, individuals – said to be from various political persuasions – marched through the streets of Basseterre registering their dissatisfaction with what they deem to be societal, economic and political ills. The event culminated with a rally at Bank Street.
The Operation’s press release indicated that its members were extremely encouraged by the large turnout.
“The large turnout signaled the fact that the people of this country are gaining the confidence necessary to rid themselves of this culture of demeaning dependency and of the politics of fear and tribalism, and are ready to assert their rights and responsibilities in their quest to establish a society built on transparency, accountability and democracy.”
The “April 15 Freedom Marchers” as well as prospective marchers, have been admonished by the Operation to “continue growing in strength of conviction and commitment to what is right for this nation, for your children, your grandchildren, yourselves, your families.
“You will be called upon to take a stand again and again and to make sacrifices that will, without a doubt, remove an uncaring, incompetent, corrupt, arrogant Prime Minister and usher in a new dispensation of hope, equity, transparency, efficiency and decency in government, and a new era of peace, stability, law and order, and prosperity in our nation.”
The release explains that in order to accomplish this “noble mission”, a strategy will be announced in the short term and the public would “be called upon to participate”.
“We are well under way, and once the pressure is maintained, and increased, Denzil Douglas will have to go.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Federation, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has categorised Friday’s march as “failed” and as “a total rejection (of Astaphan) by the people”.
A press release issued by the Communications Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) explains that according to Douglas, the people of this land are cognizant that the global financial and economic crisis and other factors are the cause of recent increases in the price of items.
“Dwyer Astaphan obviously thinks that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis are not aware of what is happening globally and regionally and how that has impacted the prices of goods and services in the world, the Caribbean and St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“The people of St. Kitts and Nevis will continue to reject Dwyer Astaphan as they have rejected him today in his so-called failed march.”
He expressed, according to the release, that while some Caribbean countries experience problems in paying their civil servants, the Federation does not experience such woes. Dr. Douglas further explained that discussions are being held to see what can be done to cushion the impact of world fuel prices.
“Here in St. Kitts and Nevis, this is not happening. Every single civil servant is assured that when he goes to the bank at the end of month, his or her salary would have been deposited there…The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance are already into discussions as to how government would be able to reduce the impact of the world prices of fuel and fuel products on by finding a way and an appropriate formula.”