Chairperson of the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Hon. Marcella Liburd gave nationals the assurance Wednesday that a new SKNLP administration will restore the rights of civil servants and freedom of expression in the twin-island Federation.
Liburd launched a scathing attack on the Timothy Harris regime for victimizing and muzzling civil servants and the media over the past three years and was also critical of civil society for reaming silent in the face of these atrocities.
She mentioned a litany of instances of the victimization of scores of public officers and of Prime Minister Harris publicly criticising and personally telephoning reporters or their managers to complain about news items. Liburd mentioned an incident where although Dr. Harris was quoted correctly, insisted that the news item be retracted and an apology made by SKNVIBES although other radio stations and media outlets had carried the same report.
Dr. Harris is on record of telling public officers not to associate themselves with opposition parliamentarians, advised residents not to listen to independent media houses Freedom 106.5 FM and WINNFM and is said to have a contractual arrangement or financial interest in SKNVIBES. It is known that the Team Unity Government pumps thousands of dollars monthly into Times Caribbean and St. Kitts and Nevis Times, owned by the PLP and Team Unity.
One other media house that touts itself as the only independent media entity in the federation, seldom carry opposition statements critical of the Team Unity administration for the past three years.
Ms. Liburd, the Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 2 (Central Basseterre) accused the government of attempting to shut down radio stations that allow the opposition to air their views and questioned the silence of the St. Kitts Christian Council, the St. Kitts Evangelical Association, the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel Association, The St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association, The Small Business Forum, the Nevis Christian Council and the Nevis Evangelical Association.
“What is happening to our democracy? What we have is a government where after three years, the pillars of our democracy are being trampled upon and eroded.
“What has happened to the fourth estate? Under the previous Labour Government headed by then Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas freedom of expression by the Press and Media flourished. Persons now in the Team Unity Government were able to air their views and even participated in protest marches against his government without consequences,” she noted.
“Today, the Prime Minister or someone on his behalf would call the radio station. I have been told of this personally,” said Liburd, a former deputy speaker and Speaker in the National Assembly.
“The pillars of our democracy are falling fast. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are under attack. A new Labour Government will restore true freedom of the press and they will truly be able to be the fourth estate, because freedom of the press and freedom of expressions are the true guardians of our democracy” said Liburd.