(Kingstown – St Vincent) – Protesters have converged on Kingstown, the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines, for an anti-government protest.
The protesters have gathered outside the islands’ parliament building, saying that the rule of law is being destroyed by the current administration headed by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
Protesters say the issue of a Government Senator and Assistant DPP or (Gungate) as they call it, is a matter of the rule of law, equal rights, and justice for all.
Police on the island have charged Government Senator Ashelle Morgan and Assistant DPP Karim Nelson in a shooting incident that left 60-year-old Cornelius John with a bullet wound.
John’s lawyer Kay Bacchus Baptiste on Monday, 5th July, speaking at an NDP virtual meeting, said John was beaten, threatened, and shot on his property.
Bacchus Baptiste said the Director Of Public Prosecution’s Office took seventy-three days to lay charges, and when it did, the victim, Cornelius John, was dealt three charges.
The matter, which should have been heard at the Calliaqua magistrate court on Monday, 5th July, was adjourned to 17th August 2021.
Rise Hiranouna, among other social justice groups, has been holding small-scale protests in various parts of the capital over the last two weeks.
The group on their Facebook page said;
“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”!
Today’s protest in the capital city, Kingstown, is being backed by the island’s main opposition party, the NDP.
On Monday night, St Vincent’s Opposition leader Dr Godwin Friday said that his party, the NDP, would support anyone or groups willing to take the country from the precipice it’s hanging on.
