Jomo Thomas threatens to sue PM Gonsalves

Jomo Thomas, former Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has announced his intention to sue Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves over allegations of Chinese interference in Vincentian politics. Thomas, a prominent lawyer, journalist, and social commentator, claims that Gonsalves has made defamatory statements implicating him and his law firm in facilitating payments to media personnel allegedly funded by China. These accusations, according to Thomas, were made during a recent Unity Labour Party (ULP) event in West Kingstown and reiterated at Taiwan’s 114th National Day celebrations in Kingstown. Thomas vehemently denies the claims, stating that he has had no contact with Chinese agents or received any funds from China. He has instructed his attorneys to send a pre-action letter to Gonsalves, warning of legal consequences. Thomas also highlighted that Gonsalves has previously threatened to sue him but backed down due to lack of evidence. The former Speaker’s relationship with the ULP has been strained since he resigned from the party in 2019 and called for Gonsalves’ removal from office. Thomas continues to be a vocal critic of the ULP administration, which secured an unprecedented fifth consecutive term in 2020. The controversy underscores the deepening political tensions in the country, with accusations of foreign influence and defamation taking center stage.