A state-run public information agency in the Caribbean has found itself embroiled in minor political controversy after a costly administrative error triggered multiple conflicting apologies this week. On Tuesday, the Agency for Public Information (API) mistakenly distributed a media advisory announcing that former Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves would host a press conference on April 28, 2026, a date more than two years in the future at the time of the error.
The blunder comes five months to the exact day after opposition leader Godwin Friday was sworn in as the new prime minister, ending Gonsalves’ historic 25-year consecutive tenure in the nation’s top office.
Within minutes of the first incorrect advisory going out, API dispatched a follow-up email to correct the mistake. That initial correction, signed by acting API director Nadia Slater, included a contradictory phrasing that only amplified confusion: it claimed the agency “sincerely apologises for the typing error in the previous email and wishes to indicate that it was a genuine error with malicious intent.” The contradictory wording immediately sparked speculation about whether the gaffe was a deliberate political slight rather than an innocent mistake.
To address the growing confusion, API issued a third formal, press release-style apology hours later, walking back the contradictory language from the first correction. In this statement, the agency emphasized that the misidentification of the prime minister was purely accidental, stemming from a routine administrative oversight during draft preparation.
“There was NO disrespect, political motive, or malicious intent whatsoever,” the statement read, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to upholding strict standards of professionalism, accuracy, and accountability across all official communications.
The agency acknowledged that it failed to meet its own quality benchmarks with the erroneous correspondence, attributing the mistake to unintended human error. “We regret any misunderstanding or concern caused by this error and thank the public and members of the media for your understanding,” the statement continued. API officials noted that internal procedural changes are already underway to strengthen pre-release review processes, with the goal of preventing similar embarrassing missteps in the future. Unlike the first correction, this final formal apology was only signed “Director (Ag.)” with no specific named signature.