Friday, January 22, 2010
Part 2 - We Watch We Listen - We Vote
Constituency #2 – Dwyer Astaphan OR Marcella Liburd
Dwyer Astaphan has spoken out against the Labour Government. After 15 years, Dwyer Astaphan has told the Nation that PM Douglas is a ‘dictator’.
Since then Dwyer Astaphan resigned from the Labour Government and has called for Douglas to step down.
In his own words, Dwyer Astaphan says that he cannot be a ‘whipping boy’ for Douglas and therefore has chosen to speak out when others
in the Labour Government are afraid to tell the truth.
This is why Dwyer Astaphan has refused to endorse Marcella Liburd. For it was PM Douglas that first appointed Marcella Liburd as a Senator, then the Speaker of the House. According to Dwyer Astaphan - all this means is that Marcella Liburd is just a good ‘whipping boy’ for Douglas.
This means that Marcella Liburd will not stand up and say “PM Douglas you are wrong”, Instead, Dwyer Astaphan has warned us that Marcella Liburd will only be another yes-man to the ‘Dictator’ Douglas.
Haile Selassie said it best, “Throughout history, it has been the indifference of those who should have known better… that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
-We see here Dwyer Astaphan refuses to endorse Marcella Liburd.
By this Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged.
sknstudentsengaged.blogspot.com
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Part 1 - We Watch We Listen - We Vote
Constituency #1 – Asim Martin
Lights Out Again! Under Asim Martin St. Kitts has been forced to live in chronic darkness.
Asim Martin– You have failed. Every time students could not finish their homework with no lights – You failed for every appliance in our homes damaged – You have failed. When St. Kitts had no electricity to see President Obama’s historic election – You failed
Asim Martin has failed because after all this he still refuses to give an explanation to the people of St. Kitts.
Worse than that – Asim Martin believes that we should not hold you responsible.
Example - When Bernard Welsh a local engineer stepped onto the platform and asked Asim Martin to give account on his failures in the Electricity Department – Asim Martin replied to say that it was the wife of Mr. Welsh who was a failure.
Asim Martin then started a public attack on the wife of Bernard Welsh.
Asim Martin – You are not fit for public office.
After this Mrs. Welsh was attacked in her home. This tragedy left most of us afraid to speak out and talk about what happened to the Welsh family.
-This is vile.
By this Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged.
sknstudentsengaged.blogspot.com
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
PM Guilty of Contempt!

Guilty! is the verdict on our Attorney General Dennis Merchant. Last Friday August 7, 2009, the High Court convicted AG Dennis Merchant for Contempt of Court.
(Read more at http://www.cananews.net/news/131/ARTICLE/40739/2009-08-08.html)
It is true that the news of our guilty Attorney General has made history in the Caribbean. More alarming, is the fact that local media are not reporting the other side of the story - Prime Minister Douglas is the one who has put our Attorney General at fault.
The Prime Minister is the one that breached the injunction ordered by the Courts. Yet the AG is the legal office responsible for the Labour Government. Prime Minister Douglas knows this and still breached the injunction to let Dennis Merchant take the blame.
Prime Minister Douglas, your actions against Dennis Merchant are shameful.
The true news caption should read – Conspiracy & Contempt: PM Guilty!
PM Douglas, it is your guilt that will likely make Dennis resign as Attorney General.
PM Douglas, since you put others at risk when you don’t get your way – YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED
By This Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Crime: Tools for Revolution
Most are surprised that Mr. Washington Archibald no longer supports the leadership of Prime Minster Dr. Douglas. Whether the fallout is a political stunt is open to question, but their very public exchange cannot be ignored.
In his latest response, Washie cautions the public to be alert now that PM Douglas threatens to force a revolution in St. Kitts and Nevis. Washie said that it was a ‘lunatic explanation’ for PM Douglas to ‘…fight to stay in power even if it means a revolution which might mean bloodshed’. Washie then warns, ‘it is a very ominous statement coming from the leader of the government…and you know that the country is full of guns….’
(full article: http://www.sknvibes.com/elections/NewsDetails.cfm/9882)
Revolution is no small event. Mr. Archibald is right that such threats end in violence and bloodshed. We especially have cause to be afraid when PM Douglas means that he will not leave office by such threats.
Added to this is the fact that the media is now subject to wrongful arrest and false imprisonment. For example, police arrested SKNVibes journalist Mr. Stachio Williams last December while trying to take photographs on the scene of a homicide. At the time he was standing across the road behind other onlookers, when he was approached by the Police Officer.
So the question that Mr. Washington Archibald needs to ask is this: what else can we do than be afraid, when right now the same PM Douglas holds monopoly power over both the Police Force and the Defense Force?
By This Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged
sknstudentsengaged.blogspot.com
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Crime: Attack on Young People
Crime: Attack on Young People
Once again, we are called to speak out.
Last week we learned that the Police Force and the Attorney General were found guilty by the Courts for the wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and deprivation of property of SKNVibes journalist Mr. Stachio Williams.
Police arrested Williams last December while trying to take photographs on the scene of a homicide. At the time he was standing across the road behind other onlookers, when he was approached by the Police Officer.
We are called to speak out given that Mr. Stachio Williams is not much older than many of us. In fact, most know Stachio personally and applaud his example to young people as SKNVibes Chief Financial Officer.
The fact is that Stachio Williams suffered in this way because he is a young person. The police would certainly not subject Stanford Conway or Tonie Frederick to the same wrongful arrest and false imprisonment when they do the very same job.
Plain and simple, Stachio’s wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and deprivation of property is an attack on young people.
SKN Students Engage three (3) critical questions: What is gained? What is lost? What is next?
1) What is gained from them found guilty?
Stachio stated to WinnFM, “I’m not really concerned about the money here, my thing is just that to ensure that going forward the media and the Police have a good working relationship and the harassment and mistreatment that we’ve experienced in the past can come to an end”
2) What have we lost?
The guilty cannot repay for the wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.

In his own words Stachio says, “He didn’t just arrest me…he actually grabbed me by my pants…held me up like a common criminal in front of crowds of people, hundreds of people over there… handcuffed me and pushed me into their vehicle…”
3) What is next?
We should not forget what Stachio Williams had to suffer. Stachio was only doing his job to inform us on what happens in the community. After 23 young people were murdered last year, THE ANSWER IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZE YOUNG PEOPLE.
We speak out especially since the Government-owned media fails to widely report that the Police Force and Attorney General are found guilty.
SKN Students Engage this silence and speak out against ALL THOSE CULPABLE.
The Attorney General was named in the Court judgment because this is customary in all cases where Government liability arises.
Therefore the Police and the AG are NOT THE ONLY ONES GUILTY.
The chain of command points to the Minister of Information, Mr. Nigel Carty and the Minister of National Security, Prime Minister Dr. Douglas.
SKN Students Engage Mr. Nigel Carty on the FAILURE TO REPORT that the Police and AG are guilty.
SKN Students Engage PM Dr. Douglas on COMMANDS ISSUED TO THE POLICE and responsible law enforcement.
We will not be silent to the wrongful arrest and false imprisonment of young people.
By This Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reshuffle Cabinet, Reshuffle the Questions
You have failed to address our Health.
For weeks now we have all listened to how the lack of resources to the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) has left barely one truck to collect garbage for the whole of St. Kitts.
Those from the SWMC are not to be blamed when they confessed to the media that this lack is because the $5.5 million collected each year for the SWMC has not been released.
As you know PM Douglas, PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets is a national concern-And your failure to speak on this matter at your last Press Conference, August 27,2008, is therefore an urgent concern.
PM Douglas, it was your silence on August 8, 2008, that best shows that you have no intention to give account for the $5.5 million collected per year for the SWMC.
SKN Students Engage PM Douglas on the Cabinet reshuffle, August 8, 2008:
1.) Reshuffle the Blame – The Finance Minister is the official responsible for the collection of Government revenue & expenditure.
PM Douglas, after thirteen (13) years as Finance Minister, your decision to name Timothy Harris the new Finance Minister is questionable for two reasons:
a) At the very time the UN reports that “St. Kitts’ and Nevis’ debt is highest in the OECS” you failed to explain why Timothy Harris was named to the Finance position, which you alone have held in your Cabinet.
b) “St. Kitts’ and Nevis’ debt is highest in the OECS” means that you have failed as Finance Minister PM Douglas. Yet you attempted to convince us that your sudden willingness to be National Security Minister made you decide to reshuffle the Finance Ministry to Timothy Harris.
However, you have failed PM Douglas in the attempt to reshuffle the blame for the state of our economy. Your legacy is that after thirteen (13) years as Finance Minister “St. Kitts’ and Nevis’ debt is highest in the OECS”
2.) Reshuffle the Questions - PM Douglas, whereas it was your responsibility to give account of the $5.5 million as the Minister of Finance, Sustainable Development and Information & Technology, you have carefully attempted to avoid the question of the $5.5 million collected per year for the SWMC and the responsibility for PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets.
a) PM Douglas, with the PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets, you need to explain why you failed to give account of the $5.5 Million before you named Timothy Harris the new Finance Minister.
b) PM Douglas, you need to explain why you have reshuffled Cabinet in a way that makes it more difficult to obtain answers to the $5.5 Million collected per year for the SWMC.
For example, you first separated your position as the Minister of Finance, Sustainable Development and Information into three (3) parts but only kept responsibility for Sustainable Development. Then you deliberately named two (2) different Cabinet members to take on your responsibility; Timothy Harris as the new Finance Minister and Sam Condor as the new Information & Technology Minister.
PM Douglas, your tactic to reshuffle the questions means that in order for us to obtain answers to the PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets we must now track down three (3) Ministers including yourself:
i) Timothy Harris – named the new Minister responsible for the $5.5 Million collected per year for the SWMC.
ii) Sam Condor - named the new Minister responsible to inform & educate the public on Government supported initiatives, activities and intentions.
iii) Sustainable Development – the one Ministry that you kept PM Douglas means you are STILL the official responsible to provide management of the environment, “to prevent, mitigate and/or reverse environmental degradation”
Moreover, Public Health is a matter of National Security. As a medical doctor you know that the PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets form unhealthy conditions for the people of St. Kitts.
PM Douglas, you have failed to address our Health. In order to reshuffle the questions and avoid the critical issues in St. Kitts and Nevis you attempt to play musical chairs with Cabinet positions. We will therefore hold your entire Cabinet responsible for PILES OF GARBAGE on our streets. We will therefore hold your entire Cabinet responsible for the unaccounted $5.5 Million collected per year to the SWMC.
By this Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged.
sknstudentsengaged.blogspot.com
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Clean Up Minister Martin
Our streets are neither safe nor clean.
Several shootings have taken place in Newtown over the past six (6) weeks.
On the same Saturday night, two young people were murdered in three separate incidents when an 18-year old was shot multiple times in the street and a 24-year old was gunned down in a parked car.
As you know this DOUBLE HOMICIDE was 12 days ago.
As you know, PILES OF GARBAGE also flow onto the main road from these very streets. From Bakers Corner to the Fire Station PILES OF GARBAGE have made it unsanitary for us to live in Newtown.
Hon. Asim Martin, over $91 Million in recurrent expenditure is under your direction as the official responsible for National Security and Public Works-Yet our streets remain neither safe nor clean.
At the Press Conference last week Prime Minister Douglas however condoned your failure to make an address to the public on crime. This is NOT the appropriate response.
This is NOT the correct answer when you are the Minister of National Security and Public Works. Minister Martin since you are also our Parliamentary Representative in Newtown, you are especially responsible for the – DOUBLE HOMICIDE and PILES OF GARBAGE– that make our streets neither safe nor clean.
Minister Martin, your failure to make an address to the public demonstrates the lack of appropriate response time. Clive Bacchus raised this very concern earlier in the week in an interview on crime with a high-ranking police official from your Ministry. Bacchus rightly concluded that this failure has placed us in “an invidious position”
Minister Martin, we should not have to wait until PILES OF GARBAGE cover the streets of St. Kitts to hear that the garbage truck has broken down. As the official responsible for this matter, over $57 Million in recurrent expenditure since 2006 has been under your direction as the Minister of Public Works. To then have members from solid waste management confess on the radio to be under resourced with barely one garbage truck for the entire island is deplorable.
It is your failed decision-making that has placed us in this invidious position where the lack of response time to address the public – on DOUBLE HOMICIDE and PILES OF GARBAGE – have made Newtown streets neither safe nor clean.
And neither can the argument be made that you do not officially become Minister of National Security until the end of July- This is because not only did PM Douglas reveal at the Press Conference that notice of the vacancy was given a few months in advance, but the PM also stated that you have had to cover the post every time the former Minister was away and therefore are the first choice to take up full responsibility for the Ministry.
As a medical doctor, you also know the health risks that we are now subject to with the unsanitary PILES OF GARBAGE exposed on the streets, which is made more harmful to our health after all the rainfall this week.
As a medical doctor you also know that the unsanitary PILES OF GARBAGE form unhealthy conditions for the people of St. Kitts, which also falls under your responsibility in National Security- for Public Health is a matter of National Security.
We will NOT stand by as your neglected responsibility for the PILES OF GARBAGE make our surroundings unsanitary for us to live and now threaten Public Health. We will therefore provide for your action:
Minister Martin, because your lack of response has placed us in this invidious position, the unsanitary PILES OF GARBAGE which affect our health and surroundings will be relocated to your residence. This will be followed by the residence of PM Douglas whom appointed you responsible to keep our streets clean as the Minister of Public Works, for which you have not appropriately directed $57 Million in recurrent expenditure.
You can expect the PILES OF GARBAGE to be relocated to your residence if they are not removed from Newtown and the surrounding area by Sunday 20 July 2008.
By this Concern, We Vociferate
SKN Students Engaged.
sknstudentsengaged.blogspot.com
A Group of Concerned students in the Federation who will not be SILENT to the urgent political issues of St Kitts and Nevis.