SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

OPENING at the Waterfront Gallery in Milford Haven Docks, Pembrokeshire resident Geraint Hughes is holding his first solo exhibition starting on Friday, May 10.

Geraint explained, “I had a desire to be an artist from an early age but graduated from Art College in the early 1990’s disillusioned and unemployable. At the time, young and foolish, I remember declaring that I never had to paint another painting unless I wanted to!” This prophetic statement led to a hiatus of over 30 years.

He is also a musician who has played in bands, collaborating with friends to explore the limits of creative expression but recently he has rekindled his love of painting.

He continued “Deep down I have always considered myself a painter but had to confront myself with the absurdity of being a painter who didn’t paint. I realised if I wanted to be a painter I had to do it – paint.”

“ I draw inspiration from the world around me. My landscape paintings capture nature, everyday scenes from my surroundings as a way of celebrating our lived experience. Each painting explores the way light creates colour, moments that are often glimpsed whilst moving through the landscape either on foot or by bike.”

David Randall, the gallery director said “ We are always looking for new talent and are delighted to be hosting his first solo show demonstrating Geraint’s creativity and skills and if you would like to meet Geraint and hear about his work you can meet him on Friday 10 May when the show opens and continues until 1 June.

RESIDENTS of Haverfordwest are gearing up for a pivotal demonstration outside the Pembrokeshire County Council at County Hall, scheduled for Thursday, May 14th. The protest, named “Stop the Stink,” aims to press the council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) into action against the ongoing environmental issues at the Withyhedge landfill site.

From 9:00 to 10:30 AM, community members, environmental activists, and concerned citizens plan to converge on the steps of the county building to make their voices heard before the NRW’s critical deadline. This date marks when the landfill operators are required to complete necessary remediation efforts to prevent toxins from leaking into the local environment.

Colin Barnett, the organiser of the demonstration, highlighted the importance of the protest. “This gathering is crucial. It’s our final chance to influence the council’s decisions and push for real change before the deadline. Our community deserves a safe and healthy environment, and we must hold those responsible accountable,” Barnett stated.

The Withyhedge landfill has been the subject of intense scrutiny following reports that harmful toxins could be escaping into the surrounding areas, posing significant health and environmental risks. Despite ongoing investigations and some interventions by NRW, public trust remains low regarding the effectiveness and transparency of the measures implemented so far.

Demonstrators are expected to display signs with messages such as “Protect Our Children” and “No More Toxins,” calling for immediate and effective action. The protest aims to ensure that the community’s concerns are not only heard but acted upon with urgency.

As the May 14th approaches, the stakes are high for the residents of Haverfordwest, who are calling for decisive and immediate action from their local leaders.

This final “Stop the Stink” protest represents a critical moment in their ongoing fight for a cleaner, safer environment.