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March hailed a 'stunning success'
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| Published on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 |
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Unity March begins
TC Islanders and the like come join the march
The Unity March called for Monday March 8 satisfied organizers with a large turnout and the event has been hailed as a “stunning success”.
The crowd size was confirmed to TCI Net News by a former police officer skilled in estimating the size of crowds and two media houses. All agreed there were a minimum of 2,000 participants. Observers noted that the crowd consisted principally of native Turks and Caicos lslanders and few others.
It was also noted the national sports competition, now ongoing, may have had a negative effect on the turnout. However, some people divided their time between the two activities.
The elevated stage erected in front of the Lightbourne Sports Centre held the podium and chairs for the speakers.
Activities began following the invocation by Bishop Colleta Williams and a fiery exhortation by Rev. Brian Cox. These early portions of the program began after 9 am, at which time the crowd was estimated at about 1,200 people.
The march was reportedly organised by the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), who developed and printed the programmes, prepared the 40 signs and 10 banners representing each island, as well as the lead banner.
There were over 20 police officers assigned to crowd and traffic control, as well as marshals assigned by the organisers.
The large crowd was calm and attentive with virtually no contentious incidents.
The Leeward Highway was shut down in the downtown area. A police vehicle headed the march followed by a sound truck loaded with equipment.
The two clergymen held the lead banner as the crowd fell into ranks 12 wide behind them. As the March began to move from the starting point, people were seen joining in behind as the column lengthened.
The marchers started at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Centre and proceeded to the Supreme Court Building, where they paused and began the process of signing a petition for Britain to include Islanders as part of the guiding council formulating a new Constitution for the islands; to engage a similar process for electoral reform; and to restrict voting rights to those already qualified as a belongers.
The sound truck experienced some problems and, despite its generators grinding away, it failed to provide the accompaniment until the halfway point was reached. However, the marchers started singing “We Shall Overcome,” “This Land of Ours” (the Turks and Caicos National Song) and a new song composed for education week “We are out to build the Turks and Caicos,” which was sung to the melody of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
As the marchers walked along, others joined them, swelling the crowd to the estimated size and temporarily more.
The march reversed course and returned on the other side of the divided highway as police blocked off the intersections. Returning to the starting point, about one half of the crowd dispersed with the remainder standing across the street from the podium to listen attentively to the speakers.
The master of ceremonies, Llewellyn Handfield, who had laid out the programme in the morning, introduced the speakers. These included Derek Taylor, Washington Misick, Clarence Selver, Max Thomas, Galmo Williams, Douglas Parnell, Don Hue Gardiner, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Royal Robinson and Samuel Harvey. Louis Ashwood gave the closing remarks.
The featured speakers were Williams and Parnell. However, Washington Misick was given attention when he spoke to the problems of the previous administration. Sharlene Robinson also drew cheers for her strong language as she announced she was speaking on behalf of her children and the legacy for future Turks and Caicos Islanders. She demanded that the expansion of the franchise to allow anyone without a belongership to vote would never happen.
Williams provided a speech similar to that he delivered in the joint press conference. Chiding governor Wetherell and claiming he did not have the support of the majority of the people, he also argued against the borrowing of funds without the people’s input.
Parnell talked about democracy, the will of the majority of the people to elect their choice. He reflected on the words of Abraham Lincoln: government by the people, for the people and of the people. Parnell provided arguments against the expansion of the franchise, the need to provide elections sooner rather than later, and the need for Turks and Caicos Islanders to be involved in the creation of their own constitution. “We are not a conquered people,” he said, “why then can we not take part in the formulation of our own constitution?”
The programme, which began in earnest at 9:30 am lasted until 2 pm. Vendors set up shop in parking lots, selling food items and tee shirts with photos of JAGS McCartney.
All media houses were represented with TV cameras rolling and cameras snapping from both media people and tourist onlookers. Blythe Duncanson, editor of the TCI Weekly News was present and said, "This is history in the making."
Unity was the key word on most banners and was demonstrated throughout the day, as political advocates from both parties shook hands, hugged and exchanged greetings.
Sample placards carried by the marchers read, "This is not about mutiny, it is about responsibility," "We will decide who will vote in our country," "Constitution, we can write it." | | | | Reads : 607 |
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Dave:
2,000 people? Are you crazy? Maybe 500. Also; it did not go on until 2 o'clock...there was nobody there by noon...please report responsibly. |
| Dr Rao:
This is the most historical rally which I ever witnessed. All the TCI's are on one rope, no more tug-of-war games to play. Unity is the diversity; unity is the strength, which the rally proved. People are united, not divided. |
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