Talk show host and government critic, Christopher Hunte will appear in court on the 23rd of next month to answer to charges that arresting officers say contravened Section 14 (C) of the Public Order Act.
Hunte was arrested last Sunday after the vehicle he was travelling in was stopped by police in Canaries amid a mass crowd event police say permission was never sought for nor was permission granted.
Hunte was identified by police as the organizer of an ‘anti-Chastanet’ motorcade which was first advertised by former government minister and now talk show host Richard Frederick. However on the day of the event Frederick was told by police that the event was illegal and that he, as the organizer, had to do something to disperse the crowd.
According to police, Frederick did as instructed by them hence the reason why he was not arrested however Hunte and other person were also spoken to by police that same Sunday prior to the start of the motorcade.
Frederick, THE VOICE learned, left the area on Sunday on his own volition, allowing someone else to drive his vehicle while he took a ride in a police vehicle to remove himself from the scene. He also did explained, via social media, why he left the area on Sunday.
Sources within the police department explained that the crowd that Sunday did dispersed when Frederick told them to do so, however some assembled at another point, urged to do so by someone other than Frederick.
Efforts by us to enquire from Hunte his role in the motorcade were unsuccessful, however he has been recorded elsewhere saying he is considering legal action against the state, vowing that another Saint Lucian would not have to go through with what he went through with police this past Sunday.
Hunte’s arrest continues to reverberate with Saint Lucians at home and in the diaspora with one theory circulating that he was targeted not by police but by persons in the highest echelons of government with police simply carrying out orders emanating those in these high places. In fact, a voice note suggesting this is circulating on the WhatsApp social platform.
Acting Police Commissioner Milton Desir was quick to dismiss such a theory, noting on an NTN Live Midday Broadcast yesterday that no one has to tell him who to arrest after almost 36 years of service in the force.
Home Affairs and National Security Minister Hermangild Francis last night on the show ‘Police Insight’ also denied giving instructions to arrest Hunte. He even said that PM Chastanet would never do something like that.
Section 14 of the Public Order Act Hunte was arrested under states that a person commits an offence who (a) Leads; (b) organises or attempts to organise; or (c) incites any person to organise or take part in any public march or exhibition in contravention of any of the provisions of this Part. Hunte was charged under section (C).
Bail condition for Hunte was set at $500. He is also to report to the Gros Islet police station every Wednesday before 7:00 p.m., surrender his travel documents, not to interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses, etc.
The case is down to be heard in the First District Court.
Martin Luther King Jr. said that “those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.” Breaking any unjust law is a badge of honor. Christopher Hunte has the courage to stand up against what is clearly an unjust law. In a true democracy we, the people, have a right to protest with no exceptions. We cannot cherry pick who can and cannot protest. And if any law prohibits the people from protesting then that law is confounded and should be abolished.
Evidently, the state is an apparatus of coersion as was clearly seen on Sunday with the arrest of Christopher Hunte for exercising his constitutional right to protest.
It has always been considered legitimate to exercise ones’ constitutional rights by all means
but at this time when the whole world is experiencing something that in recorded history, no
one have a defense against, when Medical Scientists are feverishly working day and night to
find an answer, and it is said that it might not be for a couple of years, so nations are under a
lock down – see what is happening in Brazil – the authorities here have issued an order to protect
the citizen from this pandemic – and some wise guys then decided to break the Law, and behave
like some spoiled brats – the police I think was too damn soft in dealing with the situation; Hunt
and the other organizers should be arrested forthwith and charged for disturbance. This here is
a health issue, please don’t come here and invoke the name of Martin Luther King Jr, and think
we should all bow down: that’s a completely different issue; be warned – don’t mess with Corona
it is because of this all businesses are locked down – don’t be a fool and get people sick just to
prove haw much of a smart ass you are. They’re predicting a second wave, keep demonstrating.