The general election bell has not rung, but two billboards mounted by the opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) have been destroyed.
In a statement Sunday, the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party said it erected a billboard on private property on Cunningham Street opposite the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.
“The billboard was erected pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis which guarantees the right of every person, whatever his race, place of origin, birth, political opinions, color, creed or sex, to freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association. The said billboard addressed the stark nepotism that is being practised by the Timothy Harris-led administration,” the statement said.
The SKNLP statement continued: “Early this morning before 6 o clock, it was discovered that the billboard was maliciously and criminally damaged by the removal of the message which was posted on it. The canvas bearing the message was completely removed overnight.”
The statement disclosed that a few weeks ago, around May 17th a billboard erected by the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party on Pond Road, East Basseterre, was similarly damaged overnight.
“The perpetrators attempted to burn, but eventually tore the canvas, off the billboard,” said the statement which went on to state that “it is apparent from the brazen acts perpetrated in quick succession against the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party that the Timothy Harris-led government is encouraging, emboldening and inducing criminals to commit acts of criminality and violence against those who oppose the government.”
“These acts committed against our Party are similar to those committed against the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party candidates and Embassies of Foreign governments located in Basseterre, prior to the 2015 elections,” said the statement.
“The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party calls for civility at this time as we approach the next elections. However, we are of the view that the Timothy Harris-led administration, having fallen out of favour with the people of our country, has already determined that it will employ violence and the corruption of our electoral system in its frantic bid to retain political power.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party calls upon civil society and all right-thinking citizens to immediately, utterly and without equivocation denounce these acts of violence and subversion. The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party will not allow its rights to be trampled upon; neither will it fail to defend itself from the undemocratic acts committed against it by the Harris-led administration and its criminal hirelings,”
The SKNLP said recently it is ready to contest the elections due by February next year but can be called at any time.