By Darcel Choy Sunday, April 19 2009

A small peaceful gathering of local environmental, social and cultural activists turned hostile yesterday after riot police and police from the Western Division tried to stop their event called Drummit 2 Summit which was held at the St James Amphitheatre.

The event which began at 3 pm yesterday afternoon was put together to protest the lack of accountability in public spending on the Fifth Summit of the Americas. From the beginning the small group of participants were threatened with arrest by the St James police unless they stopped drumming because, they were told, their activity was illegal.

Attorney Vernon De Lima announced to the small gathering that once they continued drumming their event would be stopped. “They accept that we break no laws by proceeding but they have received directives from higher authority that if we continue they are going to take off the microphones and if we refuse to leave, they would have to arrest everyone,” he said. After the announcement the crowd began shouting in protest. Some insisted that they were “born to drum” and they were not allowing the police to stop them, so they continued.

The police then took Drummit 2 Summit protestor Michael Parris and escorted him to the police station. The gathering attracted onlookers as child rights activist Verna St Rose Greaves ran down the road barefooted to stand in front of the station screaming the word “freedom” at the officers who were standing outside. She then ran back to the Amphitheatre insisting that the drummers continue to play their instruments.

“Raise your voices, stand off against the police, clap, do something, we are not moving until our time is here,” she said.

After his meeting with the police an obviously emotional Parris spoke to members of the media saying that the woman purporting to be an Amphitheatre board member, and whose name was said to be Suzanne Francis, told the police that she was not aware that they were going to have drums at the event.

“We are saying that this is not true and they are telling us to stop using these drums and they are asking us to leave,” he said. Parris noted that the approval for the activity was signed by Amphitheatre board president Earl Crosby of Crosby’s Record Shop. Parris was arrested last Thursday night in Gran Couva where he was charged for placarding. He was arrested while posting a sign about the event on public property.

At a few minutes after 5 pm, things got heated when Superintendent Jacqueline Smith ordered that the loud speakers be taken of.

The gathering followed and shouted after her saying, “This is our right, shame on you.” Riot police proceeded to surround the officer and prevent anyone from getting closer to her. During the stand off, Senior Superintendent Eulena Julius came and told the officers to leave.

At that point the police proceeded to leave the area but were treated to jeers from the crowd of participants and onlookers alike. The summit of activists then proceeded with songs and music until the agreed-upon time of 6 pm.

Michael Parris who is due to appear in court on Monday for his placarding, bore the police no ill feelings and said he was glad that things were allowed to go ahead. He said he feels great that the “truth was drummed out to the Americas”.