Protesters face off with Police in Kingstown

Protesters faced off with police yesterday evening as a demonstration in front of the Vegetable Market turned confrontational, resulting in several persons being hauled away to the Central Police Station nearby.

This week’s demonstration was part of four days of industrial action being carried out by the Public Service Union (PSU), in direct response to an amendment to the Public Health Act, which requires essential workers to either take a COVID19 jab or be tested regularly at their own expense.

“Our hope is to have the amendment repealed. If it’s not repealed then to have the rules in order that they have published, the draft rules, to ensure that they do not contain with it, mandatory vaccination,” the PSU president, Elroy Boucher told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday.

Boucher noted that the COVID19 virus can be spread by vaccinated and unvaccinated people. He added that it was more important for the government to ensure that people follow the necessary protocols than attempting to mandate vaccines for any worker.

The Union’s president, who decided to take the vaccine after research and consultation with several persons, said more persons are seemingly leaning towards receiving the jab and authorities should allow for this choice to be made freely among all Vincentians.

The Commissioner of Police granted permission to the PSU to engage in a peaceful demonstration in Kingstown, after initially prohibiting the activity under the Public Order Act.

By afternoon, at least two persons were taken to the Police Headquarters; one for lying in the road and attempting to block the flow of traffic, and the other for using a megaphone.

Boucher admitted to calling the Police in the first instance, only after the individual was resistant to moving out of the road.
“…We gave our commitment as a Union that the road would not be blocked,” he said.

In the second instance, the Union president, along with Industrial Relations Officer Joel Poyer, had a brief meeting with the Commissioner of Police and the woman was subsequently returned to the protest line with her megaphone.

Yesterday’s protest was supported by several other entities including the New Democratic Party and activist group, Rise Hairouna.

However, some people are of the view that the protest took a turn for the worse when NDP supporters joined the activity.

“The PSU protest was peaceful until NDP took it over. The NDP protesters came looking for confrontation with the police. This is not their protest, but they want to set the tone for the protest with their criminal, violent elements. The police need to deal with them,” a known member of the Union commented on social media.

Police dressed in army fatigues and with truncheons in hand formed a line in the street on the side of Police Headquarters yesterday, preventing protesters from advancing beyond the Jax Enterprises building.

Nearby businesses, including Corea’s City Store and Building and Loan were observed closing up early as protesters faced off in
the street with the line of police officers.

One protester was arrested in the crowd by police officers, as others argued and attempted to prevent the man from being taken by law enforcement.

Another man’s drum was taken away by officers after a brief tussle.

Adriana King, activist and teacher was also caught in the fray, being taken away by officers to the Central Police Station.

The demonstration is said to have ended sometime in the evening with a candlelight vigil outside the Kingstown Vegetable Market.