By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts– Well-known protestor Curtis Crooke is back on the streets of the island’s capital of Basseterre protesting against the Team Unity Government headed by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Timothy Harris.
On the afternoon of Thursday 27th July, this reporters spoke with him as he stood on the opposite side of Church Street facing Government Headquarters holding a placard.
The message, in part, displayed read: “Let that Jamaica man go back with his foreign accent (.) dictator Timothy lying Harris… CG from St.Kitts…”
When asked what his sign is about, Crooke lashed out at Dr. Harris for criticising St.Kitts-Nevis national former Police Commissioner Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn whilst indicating that he (Crooke) has a concern about Major General Stewart Saunders of Jamaica being appointed as the Advisor in the Ministry of National Security.
“I find that is very disrespect on behalf of the people of St.Kitts and Nevis. When Timothy was in opposition, his word was clear… that ‘CG’ came here with his foreign accent. I take that personally.”
The resident of the West Basseterre community which is commonly known as the ‘Village’ said further: “ ‘CG’ is from the ‘Village’. A lot of people wouldn’t know him because he went away when he was young so he has been away for years but when you can say that the man come here with his foreign accent and he is a Kittitian, that is very disrespectful and then on top of that you’re going to bring a man from Jamaica. What accent does the Jamaica man has?”
He added: “Is he going to take over the country and bring in all the Jamaicans? It’s a concern. So that is my reason for being here and I will be here as much as I can, everyday whenever I could.”
Crooke said his day one of his fresh protest action was on Monday 24th July. Yesterday was his second outing.
When asked about what protesting means to him, he highlighted that it is a way to get messages out publicly.
“It means a lot to get the message out and this is the way I could get the message out. I saw them (the present government) when they was in opposition, they did the same…protested. This is the way to get the message out; you come and you stand up and you get the message across; people passing, people reading, people taking pictures so, it means the message is getting out. People have to stand up. We have kids coming up; what will the future look like?”
Commenting on why he was demonstrating in that area, Crooke told: “To send a message to those in charge. This is where the prime minister comes so it is to send a message to say ‘You are in charge of the country so I’m going to stand outside of Government Headquarters’ and when I’m ready maybe stand by the Police Headquarters or ride my bike around town. The message must get out. The message have to get out. People are listening and people are watching.”