Acting Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers has denied the United Progressive Party’s application to stage a Whistlestop in the St. John’s Rural East constituency on Wednesday afternoon, November 12 – with no reason for the denial given.
The Whistlestop was intended to garner support for the call for an independent investigation into the current scandal emanating out of the Ministry of Public Works, headed by Maria Browne, the parliamentary representative for Rural East.
The request for police permission was made last Thursday, November 6 – after the Party was informed that its request for an islandwide Motorcade on Sunday, November 9, was denied. The reason given, then, was that there would not be enough personnel available on that date, given the Remembrance Day ceremony taking place at The Cenotaph.
In a meeting the following day, Friday, November 7, a Party delegation offered to delay its 10 a.m. gathering time by an hour to allow the conclusion of the ceremony and military procession; however, the Commissioner still refused. He conceded, however, that another date, after November 9, would be honoured.
The Party has since advised the Commissioner that it wishes to proceed with its Motorcade on Sunday, November 16, and has been advised that this will be permitted. However, up until press time, the Party was still awaiting confirmation in writing.
In the meantime, the United Progressive Party invites all right-thinking citizens to support the upcoming Motorcade and all protest actions against the Bronco-gate/Vehicle-gate/Chain-Gang Scandal and to demand an independent investigation into the Ministry of Works and the conspiracy that enabled the fraud reportedly valued at $15 million.
