Oswald Robinson, the outgoing president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU), has initiated a formal police investigation concerning a Facebook post that explicitly incited violence against him. This alarming development follows Robinson’s recent public statements regarding teacher mobilization against unresolved educational issues.
The controversial social media post, attributed to an individual named ‘Doug King Howard,’ emerged within 24 hours of Robinson’s appearance on the union’s BOOM FM program last Sunday. During his radio segment, Robinson had emphasized the union’s intent to mobilize educators amid ongoing governmental inaction on critical teacher concerns.
Howard’s post contained a severe political critique, contrasting the union’s approach toward previous and current administrations. It specifically referenced the 24-year tenure of the Unity Labour Party before launching personal attacks against Robinson. The most disturbing segment explicitly advocated for violent retaliation should Robinson lead protest actions, including threats of firearm violence.
In his response during a Hot FM interview Tuesday, Robinson revealed he had consulted law enforcement officials who deemed the matter extremely serious. The union leader emphasized the imperative of maintaining public order and preventing incitements to violence. Robinson, whose presidential term concludes this month before assuming the vice-presidency, acknowledged police resources are stretched thin due to existing violent crime investigations, including a recent fatal chopping incident in Barrouallie.
Despite the threats, Robinson maintained a principled stance, affirming his commitment to lawful conduct and non-violence. He expressed particular concern that such threats could potentially extend beyond himself to others. While acknowledging having heard Howard’s generally reasonable radio commentary previously, Robinson expressed shock at the violent nature of these specific threats and emphasized they must be treated with utmost seriousness.