When is a Solidarity Walk also a Demonstration of Disunity?

Onlookers watched seemingly perplexed as parliamentarian after parliamentarian poured out of the Parliament Building on Tuesday morning and headed down the Laborie Street sidewalk. Little did they know the MPs were about to embark on a walk to the NIC building on the waterfront and back. Neither did the gathered gawkers know that for once they were witnessing a local march for a good cause.  

December 10 was International Human Rights Day. To mark the occasion, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) organised a walk of solidarity, starting at the NIC Building on the Waterfront and ending at Constitution Park. Given that this is our country’s 40th year of Independence, 40 individuals with disabilities took part in the solidarity walk, along with families, well-wishers and other supporters. Specially invited were Saint Lucia’s usually warring MPs. A scheduled House session was held following the walk.

It was quite the sight, our parliamentarians, some athletic looking, some not (presumably with good reason, Kenny Anthony was not among them), traipsing down Jeremy Street, up John Compton Highway, eventually stopping outside the NIC building on the waterfront. There was also the puerile decision that the two parties, even for a good cause, could not bring themselves even to pretend they were united for the day’s purposes. Instead, one lot chose to walk on the right of John Compton Highway, the other on the left. There was an unavoidable crossing (sign of things to come?) at the point between the car park and the Greaham Louisy building, with the MPs reluctantly coming together at their destination. 

A waiting crowd emotionally welcomed them, with Prime Minister Allen Chastanet seeming to attract most of the fawning attention. Meanwhile, other MPs posed for photos and engaged in what appeared to be friendly exchanges with the congregations. Among those at the waterfront were beaming students in uniform and representatives of Dunnottar School. Altogether an uplifting sight in these times of constant conflict.   

The Prime Minister finally disentangled himself to squeeze in a little time for the media. “I think this is a very important cause,” he said. “When dealing with disabilities we should consider there are many kinds: we have physical disabilities, mental disabilities and economic disabilities. As a government we are doing our utmost to address all of them. We don’t always have the resources but I want it known the will is there. Physically coming out today and lending support to our disabled is important. Sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate the perspective of those with disabilities. I think that adopting international standards and doing everything to make sure they have equal access to opportunities is vital.”

Soon after our nation’s MPs’ arrival, the walk for solidarity began. Each parliamentarian escorted a person with a disability to Constitution Park, making the occasion even more special. The feel-good factor was at its peak as each participant in the solidarity walk reached their destination. Hundreds stopped to bear witness to the proceedings. Also in attendance was the president of the NCPD, Merphilus James, who thanked all there, in particular each parliamentarian for their support of persons with disabilities.

Opposition Leader Philip J Pierre inspired with this short autobiography: “Many of you will not know that I can share today a special message with you because I was actually born with a disability. So think I can understand what you feel. I can empathise with you. I was born not being able to walk and I had the good fortune to travel off island to get medical care and treatment and look at where I’ve reached today. So, if I can reach where I am today, I’m sure those of you who are differently abled can reach higher heights than me. So I want to tell you that you have no limits. Your limits are boundless. You can achieve whatever you want to achieve, once you have the commitment and the spirit and the discipline to achieve it.”

The solidarity walk occured two weeks after Prime Minister Chastanet signed the Instrument of Accession of Saint Lucia to the UN Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on November 29, 2019.