A landmark legal battle challenging the eligibility of two senior St. Vincent and the Grenadines government officials is unfolding in Kingstown’s High Court. The opposition Unity Labour Party (ULP) has launched constitutional petitions against Prime Minister Godwin Friday and Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, alleging their Canadian citizenship disqualifies them from holding parliamentary office.
During a case management hearing presided over by Justice Gertel Thom, both legal teams revealed intentions to summon Canadian citizenship experts as witnesses. Lead counsel for the petitioners, former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Stuart Young, SC, successfully secured court-ordered disclosure of critical nomination documents (Forms 2 and 3) from both defendants by March 12, 2026.
The constitutional challenge hinges on Section 26(1)(a) of the SVG Constitution, which prohibits parliamentary members from holding “acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state” through their own actions. The petitioners contend that although Canada is a Commonwealth nation, it constitutes a “foreign power” under constitutional interpretation.
Justice Thom has established an accelerated timeline for the joint trial, scheduling hearings for July 28-30, 2026, while cautioning against procedural delays. The court must determine two pivotal issues: whether Canada qualifies as a foreign state under constitutional provisions, and the circumstances under which both officials obtained Canadian citizenship.
The petitioners’ legal team received three weeks to file additional evidence, while the respondents’ counsel secured eight weeks for their evidentiary preparations. The next case management conference is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
This unprecedented legal challenge marks the first electoral petition against Prime Minister Friday, who has held the Northern Grenadines seat for six consecutive terms since 2001. Both ministers acknowledge acquiring Canadian citizenship voluntarily rather than through birthright, potentially placing their parliamentary qualifications in constitutional jeopardy.