Written by Eugene Ward.
(Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 15, 2013) For years, anti-Labour personalities have been guests on a well-known Federation Saturday talk show. One former Labour Minister has always been able to have his say; a former PAM Minister has been able to say whatever he pleases; and even the more recently arrived female has been free to “let loose”, week after week, bolstered by other anti-Labour panelists and call-in supporters. Throughout, Kittitians and Nevisians have calmly accepted the fact that these individuals were simply exercising their God-given rights.
In recent months, these same panelists have become vocal proponents of “unity”. In recent weeks, however, the public has been given important insights into exactly what “national unity” means to its proponents. And what provided these insights was the arrival of a pro-Labour guest on the show.
Immediately, those pro-“unity” persons who call every single talk show, every single day, began slamming the new panelist’s motivations on-air, angrily charging him with having been paid off, and with “singing for his supper”. Indeed, two Saturdays ago, the nation’s leading “unity” proponent shouted “Shut you mouth!” at the new guest, on-air. And last Saturday, again on-air, he angrily called the new panelist “a $5.00 prostitute”.
“Unity” is the new rallying cry in St. Kitts-Nevis, to be sure. However, this has nothing to do with some overarching quest for a spirit of broad-based acceptance and understanding. What it refers to, instead, is a harsh coming together of only those who are interested in bringing down the Labour Government. And this, the brazen efforts to intimidate and humiliate the new Saturday talk show guest clearly shows.