Protesters In New York Protest About Crime Rates
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 26, 2009 (CUOPM)
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has condemned the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) and its agents for recent unpatriotic actions which could damage the tourism industry and affect the taxi drivers, vendors, hotel and restaurant workers and other stakeholders who make their livelihood from tourism.
“They are targeting the tourist industry and trying to destroy it if possible, as part of their new campaign marketing strategy of getting into power,” said Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, during his weekly “Ask the Prime Minister” radio programme on Tuesday in response to a question from a caller in New York.
He named Tony Hendrickson, Lennox Liburd of Cayon living in New York and two of Liburd’s employees as the persons who stood outside the building which houses the St. Kitts and Nevis Mission to the United Nations and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority Offices with placards and protesting crime in the Federation.
“They were distributing flyers saying that people are being killed in St. Kitts. Do not travel to St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas, who added that this kind of irresponsible behaviour is what is being seen from a very desperate opposition party in St. Kitts and Nevis.
He pointed to the hundreds of jobs created in the tourism industry through the various businesses included hotels.
“Look at how much employment is being generated in the construction industry as more local homes as well as hotels and villas and residential homes are been constructed. Look how many taxi operators and their families; those working in the hotels and the bars and related businesses who are making a living from the tourist industry. Why in good heavens does PAM want to destroy tourism in St. Kitts and Nevis for petty party politics? Why in good heavens is the tourist industry that is employing thousands of people; that is at the moment stimulating and driving the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis, being targeted by the People’s Action Movement. Why? Why is PAM getting so desperate in their quest to get into political office? Why? That is the question that all sensible Kittitians and Nevisians should be asking themselves at this time? asked Prime Minister Douglas passionately.
Dr. Douglas, who is also the Minister of Tourism referred to the millions of dollars being pumped into marketing St. Kitts and Nevis as a destination.
“Look at how much has been invested in New York. We continue to have American Airlines continuing its twice-weekly flights out of New York and its daily flights out of Miami. They specifically targeted high-end tourism and high-end tourists in the New York area,” Dr. Douglas charged.
“Why is PAM targeting New York ““ one of our tourism markets,” asked Dr. Douglas, stating categorically: “This is a clear indication that PAM will do anything and everything to get into political office and our citizens must understand that these actions are not jokes. This is a very serious threat to our national economy and our survival here in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The Prime Minister appealed to PAM and its agents “to think of the thousands of persons whose lives you are trying to destroy and disrupt when you target in a negative way the destruction of the tourist industry from New York.
Dr. Douglas referred to agents of PAM, who have been seen posting its supporters at the entrance to the airport or the exit who lie down on cots simulating blood running from their bodies.
He also referred to the persons, being paid by PAM to parade around town and other areas with their mouths taped deliberately placing themselves in the pathways where tourists will in fact see them as they move about in an effort to paint a negative picture for the tourists who are visiting St. Kitts.
A recent SKNVIBES report early March quotes PAM’s Deputy Political Leader and Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Shawn Richards as saying the recent demonstrations in St. Kitts were another component of his party’s creative marketing campaign to highlight how the Labour administration is ignoring key societal issues.
SKNVIBES said on March 6th that the demonstrations in St Kitts was the latest in a series of marketing ploys by the opposition party and referred to some of them as a chained car, a broken-down car, chair and protesters with tape over their mouths and that each of these demonstrations has been accompanied by signs chastising and criticising the Labour Government.