In a striking political development, opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves has issued a public caution regarding the composition of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Public Service Commission and Police Service Commission (PSC). The veteran politician specifically raised concerns about retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Ronald Christopher’s recent appointment, warning fellow commissioners to prevent any potential attempts to “lead the constabulary from the PSC.
This advisory has drawn immediate scrutiny from political analysts who note the apparent contradiction in Gonsalves’ position. During his 25-year tenure as prime minister, his administration appointed three retired deputy commissioners of police and one retired police sergeant to serve on the very same commission without similar public reservations.
The context of this warning emerges amid a dramatic political shift. Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party suffered a decisive electoral defeat on November 27, 2025, losing all parliamentary seats except his own to the New Democratic Party after nearly a quarter-century in power.
Retired Sergeant Morgan, who served on the PSC during the final ULP administration (2020-2025), publicly defended Christopher’s appointment via social media. “If Ronald Christopher was made Commissioner, the force would not be in the mess it is in today,” Morgan stated, adding that Christopher “would not have been anyone’s puppet” and describing him as an excellent choice to represent police interests.
Morgan further criticized the previous commission’s operations under ULP governance, alleging that promotions were pre-arranged and commissioners were expected to be “yes men,” reducing the body to a mere “figurehead.”
The newly sworn commission, chaired by retired public servant Laura Anthony-Browne, includes Christopher among its members. Gonsalves acknowledged the qualifications of several appointees while maintaining his specific concerns about former high-ranking police officers influencing current force operations.
Insiders familiar with the relationship between Gonsalves and Christopher suggest personal history may factor into the opposition leader’s stance. Sources reveal that Christopher was effectively sidelined within the police force after declining a government-proposed transfer to Barbados in 2007 due to family obligations, spending his final six service years in diminished roles handling port and government building security.
One source characterized this treatment as “vindictiveness” from the then-ULP government, comparing it to similar reassignments of other officers who fell out of favor.