Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves has outlined what he considers the fundamental challenges facing St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 25 years after the Unity Labour Party (ULP) assumed power. Speaking in Calliaqua on Sunday, Gonsalves addressed a controversial statement made by Central Kingstown MP St. Clair Leacock earlier this year. Leacock had argued that the low salaries of MPs, particularly in comparison to public servants, result in inadequate pensions for retired lawmakers—a point Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves agreed with. Leacock, an opposition lawmaker, also noted that his current salary as an MP is less than what he earned as a graduate teacher in the 1980s. The ULP has since used Leacock’s remarks out of context as part of their election campaign strategy. Gonsalves, who is seeking a third term as MP for East St. George, countered Leacock’s assertion, emphasizing that the fundamental issues in the country are not about politicians’ salaries but rather about improving education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare. He highlighted the need for better access to education, higher minimum wages, and greater opportunities for young people. Gonsalves also expressed frustration with what he described as ‘backward’ elements in society that hinder progress. As the general election approaches, Gonsalves is expected to face a challenge from Laverne Gibson-Velox of the New Democratic Party (NDP), who is making her second attempt to unseat him. In the 2020 election, Gonsalves won by a narrow margin of 196 votes, down from 607 in 2015. The election is anticipated to take place by November, ahead of the constitutional deadline in February 2026.
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SPYO and IMA Grenada launch 2025 Primary School Debates
The St Patrick’s Youth Organisation (SPYO), in partnership with the Investment Migration Agency Grenada (IMA Grenada), has unveiled the inaugural IMA Grenada–SPYO Primary School Debate Competition 2025. This marks the second year IMA Grenada has served as the title sponsor and the eighth year the event has inspired young debaters across Grenada. For the first time, the competition extends its reach to include primary schools from St David, alongside St Patrick, St John, St Mark, and St Andrew. This year’s theme, ‘Empowering the Future: Youth Leadership as the Key to Nation Building,’ challenges 19 participating schools to explore critical topics such as technology for sustainable development, youth governance, and the implications of artificial intelligence. The competition commenced with the opening ceremony and elimination rounds on October 7 and 8, featuring debates on artificial intelligence. The tournament will progress through preliminary, quarter-final, and semi-final rounds, culminating in the Grand Final on December 3. Substantial awards, including cash prizes totaling $13,000, team awards, and individual recognitions, will honor the participants’ efforts. The event is supported by sponsors such as Rubis, Grenada Cooperative Bank, Republic Bank Grenada Limited, Glenelg Spring Water, True Blue Bay Resort, and the National Lotteries Authority (NLA).
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All Saints West Town Hall Set for Thursday
Residents of All Saints West are being urged to participate in a pivotal community town hall meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The event, hosted by MP Anthony Smith Jr., will take place at the Sea View Farm Primary School starting at 7:30 p.m. This gathering is designed to facilitate open and constructive dialogue between the community and their parliamentary representative, focusing on critical issues impacting the constituency. Smith emphasized the importance of the town hall as a venue for genuine conversations and actionable planning, encouraging attendees to voice their ideas and concerns to collectively shape the future of All Saints West. The meeting, initially planned for earlier in the week, was rescheduled but will now proceed as planned at the same location and time. Under the theme “Let’s talk. Let’s plan. Let’s move forward together,” residents are invited to engage in discussions that aim to drive progress and strengthen community leadership. #AllSaintsWest #LeadershipInAction #WeStillLegitWithSmith
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Education Minister Promises System Where Every Story Can Reach a Successful Chapter
In a stirring address at the 2025 CIBC Grade Six National Assessment Awards Ceremony, Education Minister Daryll Matthew reiterated his ministry’s dedication to fostering an inclusive education system that supports students from early childhood through university. Matthew emphasized the importance of ensuring that “every story has the chance to reach a successful chapter,” a vision aimed at empowering students to achieve their dreams. The ceremony, held under the patronage of Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, celebrated the nation’s top 100 primary school achievers, with gold and silver awards, cash prizes, and certificates presented by CIBC Caribbean. Matthew urged the young scholars to approach their secondary education with confidence and determination, reminding them that their journey is ongoing. “Your story has not ended,” he said. “It is still being written, and only you can decide how it ends.” Drawing inspiration from Matthew 5:16, he encouraged students to “shine brightly, beautifully, and boldly,” assuring them of the nation’s unwavering support. The minister also highlighted the critical role of the private sector in education, praising CIBC Caribbean for its sponsorship of the event. “When corporate citizens invest in education, they invest in the very soul of the nation,” he remarked. Concluding his speech, Matthew expressed optimism and national pride, urging the awardees to “go out and shine” as Antigua and Barbuda watches, cheers, and believes in their potential.
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Bramble rebuts PM on $800m immediate repayment to Taiwan
Fitz Bramble, Member of Parliament for East Kingstown, has vehemently refuted Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ assertion that St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) would be required to immediately repay EC$800 million in loans to Taiwan if diplomatic ties with Taipei were severed. Bramble, speaking at a New Democratic Party (NDP) community meeting in Layou, dismissed the claim as baseless, stating, ‘I have never seen a loan agreement debated in our Parliament that stipulates repayment in full under any condition. Never!’ He further criticized Gonsalves, accusing him of dishonesty and blaming him for the country’s escalating debt crisis.
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Church to open primary school focusing on spirituality, discipline
Grace Community Baptist Church in Kingstown Park, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has initiated the construction of a private primary school, Grace Christian Academy, with a curriculum rooted in biblical teachings and discipline. Senior Pastor Dexter Kirby revealed that the project, estimated at EC$1.4 million, will be developed in phases, with the first classrooms expected to open by September 2018. The school will cater to students from kindergarten to grade 6, building on the foundation of the church’s existing preschool, which currently serves 30 children from both the congregation and the public. Funding for the school will primarily come from donations by church members, with additional support anticipated from Christian organizations and churches abroad, including mission teams from the United States. The curriculum will be a hybrid Christian program, such as Abeka, integrating biblical principles into subjects like math, English, and science. Kirby emphasized the importance of character development alongside academic excellence, citing concerns over biblical illiteracy, moral decay, and declining educational standards among the nation’s youth. He stressed the necessity of Christian education to combat these challenges and foster holistic development in children, both spiritually and academically.
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VS breidt drugsaanvallen uit naar Stille Oceaan
The United States military has escalated its anti-drug operations by conducting its eighth strike on a suspected drug transport vessel, this time in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday. This marks a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s campaign against drug trafficking in South America.
Previously, the seven earlier strikes were concentrated in the Caribbean. However, the latest operation signifies a strategic shift toward the waters off South America, a critical route for cocaine smuggling from major producers like Colombia and Peru. Ecuador, with its extensive ports and trade flows, serves as a key transit hub.
Hegseth drew parallels between the fight against drug cartels and the U.S. war on terrorism post-9/11, stating, ‘Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our borders and our people.’ He emphasized that no mercy would be shown, declaring, ‘There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice.’
President Donald Trump has justified these military actions by framing the U.S. as being in an ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels, labeling these criminal groups as unlawful combatants. He relies on the same legal framework used in the war on terror under President George W. Bush. Trump hinted at future land-based strikes, vowing, ‘We will hit them very hard when they come over land,’ and indicated he might inform Congress of further steps.
The military campaign has sparked political and legal debates. Lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties have raised concerns over the lack of congressional authorization and the limited transparency surrounding the execution of these strikes. Democrats have pointed to potential violations of both U.S. and international law.
Senator Rand Paul (Republican) criticized the executive branch, warning that Congress must not allow the president to become ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ in this matter. Meanwhile, the Republican-dominated Senate recently rejected a Democratic proposal that would have required the president to seek congressional approval for further military actions.
In the House of Representatives, Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called for a hearing on the strikes, criticizing the White House and the Department of Defense for their lack of transparency regarding the use of lethal military force.
Additionally, the U.S. military has significantly increased its presence in the Caribbean Sea and off the coast of Venezuela since the summer, fueling speculation that the Trump administration may be pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of involvement in narco-terrorism.
The recent strike was captured in a video showing a small boat, allegedly loaded with cocaine packages, exploding and burning on the water. Since the campaign began last month, at least 34 deaths have been reported. The administration has so far avoided prosecuting the occupants of the targeted vessels, with two survivors repatriated to Ecuador and Colombia. Ecuadorian authorities later released one due to insufficient evidence of criminal activity.
While fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug responsible for many overdose deaths in the U.S., is primarily smuggled via land routes from Mexico, the current campaign focuses on cocaine transported by sea.
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LETTER: 17-Year-Old Sees Growing Bias in Antigua’s Justice System
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is facing mounting criticism over allegations of systemic bias and unfair treatment within its ranks. A recent letter to the editor, penned by a concerned 17-year-old, highlights the growing discontent among citizens and officers alike. The letter points to a troubling pattern of selective recognition, where individuals in higher positions are celebrated for achievements that others, often of lower rank, have already accomplished without acknowledgment. For instance, the writer’s neighbor, who diligently balanced her online degree studies with her duties in the justice system, received no recognition for her efforts. In contrast, higher-ranking officers are now being publicly praised for similar accomplishments. This disparity raises serious questions about fairness, justice, and equality within the force. The writer argues that such practices undermine the core values of integrity and meritocracy that the police force claims to uphold. They call for a system where recognition is based on genuine contribution and hard work, rather than hierarchy or status. The letter concludes with a plea for reform, emphasizing that both the public and dedicated officers deserve a justice system they can trust. This issue has sparked a broader conversation about accountability and transparency in law enforcement, as citizens demand better treatment for those who serve with humility and dedication.
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‘Trinidadian’ student wins SVG’s Prime Minister’s Gold Medal
Jerrel Insanali, a student originally from Trinidad and Tobago, has been awarded St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister’s Gold Medal for achieving the top performance in the 2025 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). Insanali, who migrated to St. Vincent with his family in 2023, is among 19 students granted national scholarships, each covering five years of study at the University of the West Indies (UWI). Alongside the prestigious medal, he will receive an EC$20,000 cash prize during the National Schools’ Independence Rally held at Victoria Park in Kingstown. The event, themed “Cheers to 46: Honouring Our Scholars: Celebrating Our Nation,” commemorates the country’s 46th anniversary of independence while celebrating academic achievements. Christian Gieowarsingh and Gianna Stapleton, who tied for second place, will each receive EC$10,000 in addition to their scholarships. The rally will also recognize 82 graduates from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College for their exceptional results in the 2025 CAPE and associate degree programs. In addition to national scholarships, 18 exhibition scholarships and 43 bursaries will be awarded, along with two special awards for students over 21. The event will feature remarks by education officials and a keynote address by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, emphasizing the rally’s role in fostering national pride and academic excellence.
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Antigua Joins CARICOM in Call for Urgent Climate Action Ahead of COP30
Antigua and Barbuda has aligned with its CARICOM counterparts in adopting a robust declaration demanding heightened global ambition and climate justice as the world approaches the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the pivotal COP30 summit in Brazil. The CARICOM Declaration, ratified on October 16, 2025, underscores the Caribbean’s collective stance that restricting global warming to 1.5°C is both a scientific necessity and a legal obligation. Leaders emphasized that small island developing states (SIDS), including Antigua and Barbuda, are disproportionately affected by escalating hurricanes, rising sea levels, and ocean warming, despite their minimal role in global emissions. The declaration spotlights the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS) as a critical framework for addressing the unique challenges faced by island nations. It calls on major emitters to realign their 2035 targets with the 1.5°C pathway and intensify current climate actions, asserting that “the time for implementation is now.” CARICOM leaders also advocated for equitable access to climate finance, proposing a new global goal of at least US$1.3 trillion annually. They insisted that such funding should be delivered through grants and highly concessional terms, prioritizing SIDS for adaptation and loss-and-damage initiatives. The declaration welcomed the operationalization of the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which allocates at least half of its initial US$250 million to SIDS and least developed countries. Additionally, it endorsed reforms to the international financial system, including the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and debt-for-climate swaps, to better reflect the vulnerabilities of developing nations. CARICOM reiterated that support for these nations is a matter of “justice and legal obligation, not charity,” and urged COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to mark a decisive shift “from pledges to performance.” Antigua and Barbuda, having hosted the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States earlier this year, continues to spearhead global climate diplomacy, championing the rights and survival of vulnerable nations.