By Tahna Weston
United Progressive Party leaders are expected to meet this week to review plans to show support for the victims of violent crimes after permission for a ‘Black March and Candlelight Vigil’ was denied by the police.
The central executive met last week to discuss holding the event which, if not for the denial, would have taken place today.
Party Chairperson D Gisele Isaac, in an interview with the Daily Observer, said the march and vigil was designed to show solidarity with the victims of crime as well as to engage in prayers for the nation with regards to rising crime in an effort to seek God’s mercy and help turn the tide.
This event required the permission of the police, and with this in mind the party sought to obtain it through a letter penned by the party’s general secretary.
“We had a central executive meeting on Tuesday and the central executive approved the plan and I think it was Thursday that they [police] responded and said they needed the route.
“So we sent the route off and then we heard that we are not going to get permission and I think it was on Friday that we got the actual letter from the Commissioner saying that he would not grant permission for three reasons.
“So the police administration has denied the application for the march scheduled for 26th August, 2024,” Isaac said.
According to Isaac, the reasons for the denial put forward by Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney are “heightened police operations taking place at this time; the exigencies [an urgent need or demand] of duty [for police officers]; having consideration for the preservation of public order and in the interest of public safety”.
However, the police have apparently not totally ruled out the UPP staging the event, but it has to be on a different date.
“So we were not able to move forward the plans because of course we had to wait for permission, and now that permission has been denied we will have to go back to the leadership or the executive to determine what we do next, whether we choose another date and time or another event altogether. So that’s where we are at present,” the UPP chair said.
Asked whether the party felt there was some other reason for denying the application, Isaac said she was unable to speak on behalf of the party but noted that personally she was not surprised that the request was denied.
“I think for us to take such an action at such a time – the United Progressive Party that is – and to have garnered the public support and support from the church, which we would have been seeking for the spiritual part of it, I think that would have given the government, the administration, a bit of a black eye.
“And so I do believe that even if Commissioner Rodney wanted to give permission that the administration would not have been in favour of it,” Isaac said.
