Two more opposition activists charged over protests

KINGSTOWN (CMC):

Two prominent members of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) were charged on Wednesday with public order offences over protests in Kingstown in July and August, bringing to four the number of persons so charged.

On Wednesday, police arrested the party’s general secretary, Tyrone James, a retired Coast Guard commander, as well as Colin Graham, an NDP spokesperson, and slapped them with four charges each.

The men’s lawyer, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, told CMC that they were each charged that on July 29, at Kingstown, they did organise or were concerned with organising a public procession, without notifying the commissioner of police at least 24 hours prior.

Another count of the same charge was brought against the duo, allegedly committed in Kingstown on August 5.

The two were also charged that on the same dates — July 29 and August 5 — in Kingstown, they did knowingly take part in a public procession or meeting, in contravention of Section 5(1) and Section 5(2) of the Public Order Act.

They were each granted station bail and ordered to appear before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court to answer the charges.

The charges against James and Graham are the same as those brought against Adriana King, a teacher, and Kenson King, a prison officer, last month.

The arrests and charges come as protests are being planned for outside Parliament in Kingstown on September 9 over the government’s vaccination policy, as well as other national issues.

“I am asking Vincentians to come out in your numbers, stop this nonsense that is going on in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” James said. “They are trying to pick us off, cherry-pick us and move us away to prevent things from happening in this country. We must stand up to this regime. We must stand up. Vincentians, if you want to protect your democracy, come out on the 9th and stand up.”