The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AS momentum builds on social media for a “Black Friday” protest, lead organiser and community activist Ranard Henfield yesterday raised alarms that his efforts have put him under the scrutiny of the police.

Mr Henfield claimed that he was approached by undercover officers, who allegedly identified themselves to be a part of the Security Intelligence Branch, on Monday while on his way to submit an application for permission to protest in Rawson Square.

“The officer said, ‘we just want to know more about it (the protest), what’s the route, who’s involved, why are you doing this, who else may be behind it?” Mr Henfield said he was asked .

“So I said just me, and explained why I’m doing it, that it’s non-violent and more of a promotion to tell parliamentarians what we need to happen in this country to empower and enrich us.”

Mr Henfield said that his concerns were amplified the following day when an officer with whom he was familiar, warned him of a potential attack. He said he was now making arrangements to get his family out of the country ahead of the demonstration.

“Then an officer called me and said to me ‘we support you but you should not go home, do not go home the night before the protest’.”

He said: “I said that it would be the stupidest thing for the government to have something happen to me because it would give more momentum to the movement.”

The silent protest, titled “We March”, will begin at Arawak Cay at 1pm on November 25. From there, participants will walk to Parliament and remain there until 1am the following day. The event posted on Facebook has attracted significant support from activists and civic organisations, including environmental group Raising Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL). Protests are also expected to be staged in Grand Bahama and Abaco on the same day.

Mr Henfield is the founder of the Our Carmichael Community Initiative, a programme that has seen viral growth since it was established in October, 2015. In addition to co-ordinating relief efforts with social media group HeadKnowles, Our Carmichael opened a temporary community school aimed at continuing the education of the students of all ages while government schools were closed due to the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. The initiative has also been nominated for a Bahamian Icon Award for its contributions to humanitarianism.

For the upcoming march, participants have been asked to wear black clothing and not take part in any media interviews.

“Our children are under-educated,” said a post on the event’s Facebook page. “Our family members are unemployed. Our businesses are closing down. Our police are ill equipped and out-gunned by criminals. Our salaries are depleted by the high cost of living. Our people aren’t safe in our communities. Our land, fish and forestry are about to be given to China and other foreign entities. Our air is polluted and our islands are covered in trash.”

The event’s page further outlines a 17-point petition of demands for lawmakers, among which includes: a referendum on term limits for MPs and the prime minister; the introduction of a national lottery; waste management reform; and to strip the Cabinet posts of Jerome Fitzgerald, minister of education, and V Alfred Gray, minister of agriculture and marine resources.

Other demands listed on the event’s social media page were: “Cancel all negotiations on these Chinese fishing, agriculture and forestry ventures and issue our Crown land to our people with an annual lease fee. Implement Marco’s Law immediately to protect our children from predators.

“Show us the $600 plus million from VAT. Enact laws to empower civil society organisations in hurricane relief efforts and community development. Enforce public disclosure and advise the commissioner of police to arrest any MP that has failed to disclose.

“Table a bill to introduce an all-Bahamian cruise industry with vessels owned by Bahamians only. Lift the moratorium on taxi plates and end the practice of leasing plates, which is truly a form of indenture labour. Allow civil servants to participate in demonstrations and to have second sources of income. Cap the interest rates banks can charge on mortgages, personal loans and credit cards.”

Yesterday, Mr Henfield attributed the widespread interest the event has attracted so far to its apolitical stance.

“It’s not aligned with any political party, it’s gone viral and there is one organised in Grand Bahama, and one in Abaco. Before people weren’t vocal about support of a protest, and now it’s being received well and it’s turning out to be a movement of the people.

“We want our country and our voice back. I don’t want to put anybody’s life at risk; I’m prepared that something may happen for me. I can’t step back, I’m just going to get my family to stay safety.”