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  • Eight Years On, Carlisle Bay Robbery Suspect Still at Large

    Eight Years On, Carlisle Bay Robbery Suspect Still at Large

    It has been eight years since a brazen heist shook the exclusive Carlisle Bay Resort in Antigua and Barbuda, and law enforcement officials are still actively searching for the man they accuse of masterminding the multimillion-dollar theft. Anthony “Thug Life” Govia, the alleged ringleader of the scheme that stole more than 98,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars from the luxury property, remains at large eight years after the 30 June 2018 incident, topping the country’s most wanted list.

    Investigators have pieced together that the plot was a joint conspiracy between Govia and Kathy-Ann Isaac, a long-tenured accounts clerk who had served the resort for 14 years. Initially, the robbery was staged to look like the work of a lone armed intruder. The story that unfolded from security camera footage told a different truth: two insiders had first withdrawn cash from the resort’s on-site safe, before a masked gunman entered the location and fled with the stolen funds. For a time, Isaac was counted among the victims of the crime, with investigators suspecting no internal involvement at first. That changed as the case deepened, and police ultimately brought conspiracy charges against her. She entered a guilty plea in 2019, and was handed a 30-month prison sentence the following year, a penalty she has already fully completed.

    Govia, by contrast, is believed to have fled Antigua within days of the robbery pulling off, and no arrest has ever been made in his case. As the eighth anniversary of the heist approaches, local police have renewed their public appeal for any tips or information that could lead to his capture. Officials have issued a clear warning to the public: anyone found knowingly aiding Govia by providing shelter or assistance will face criminal prosecution themselves.

    The unsolved Carlisle Bay Resort robbery retains its status as one of the most high-profile unresolved theft investigations in Antigua and Barbuda’s recent history, with authorities stressing that the manhunt for the alleged mastermind remains an active priority for the force.

  • Minister Welcomes Preliminary Findings on Regional Conservation Initiative

    Minister Welcomes Preliminary Findings on Regional Conservation Initiative

    A regional initiative to embed cross-party political commitment to environmental conservation across the Eastern Caribbean is moving forward in Antigua and Barbuda, after researchers from the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWI FIC) delivered the program’s preliminary findings to senior national government officials this week.

    Led by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), the Advancing Conservation in the Eastern Caribbean Programme was created to address growing climate and biodiversity risks across the small island developing states of the region by building sustained parliamentary support for conservation action. The initiative’s core model supports participating nations to establish inclusive, cross-party parliamentary conservation caucuses that embed environmental stewardship into formal legislative and policy processes.

    To date, three regional nations – Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Suriname – have already fully completed the program and launched their own non-partisan parliamentary conservation caucuses. Antigua and Barbuda is now on track to become the fourth participating country, following bilateral consultations between the UWI FIC research team and key local stakeholders. A national validation workshop to finalize the next steps for the country’s caucus is scheduled for July 22 at Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Environment.

    The UWI FIC delegation that presented the preliminary findings included Dr. Branson Belle, Executive Director of the institution’s Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and Blue Economy, and marine and conservation researcher Dr. Christopher Waters. The findings were shared with Hon. Michael Joseph, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, and Jaabari Reynolds, Biodiversity Focal Point at the national Department of Environment.

    To ensure broad buy-in from all segments of national life, the upcoming July validation workshop will be split into two separate sessions designed to accommodate input from a wide range of groups. The structure aligns with the program’s emphasis on a “Whole of Society” approach to conservation and sustainable development, which brings together actors across public and private sectors to tackle shared environmental challenges.

    Minister Joseph welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that collective, coordinated action is the only effective way to confront the accelerating impacts of climate change across small island states. “The effects of climate change are far-reaching and touch every aspect of our lives. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated Whole of Society approach that brings together government, civil society, the private sector, academia and our communities,” Joseph stated in remarks following the presentation.

    He added that cross-sector initiatives like the ICCF program play a critical role in strengthening national conservation commitments, while nurturing innovative solutions and building long-term climate resilience for current and future generations.

    When fully rolled out across the region, the program is expected to create a standardized framework for deeper parliamentary engagement in environmental policy-making, and strengthen cross-border collaboration to advance shared goals for biodiversity protection and climate resilience across the Eastern Caribbean.

  • Sturge: MiLAT suspended, not closed

    Sturge: MiLAT suspended, not closed

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has formally confirmed that the Military-Led Academic Training Programme (MiLAT), a long-standing initiative aimed at rehabilitating at-risk young people, has been temporarily paused. The confirmation came this week following swirling public speculation after all contracted teachers and civilian administrative staff attached to the programme were sent off-site on Monday, leaving nearly 100 junior trainees in limbo and sparking widespread questions about the initiative’s long-term future.

    Contrary to circulating reports that the programme had been permanently shut down, Sturge emphasized that the suspension is only a temporary measure while the government carries out a full-scale structural and financial restructuring of MiLAT. Speaking to local media outlet the Express, Sturge outlined that two key factors drove the decision: mounting financial pressures on the state and the programme’s current unsustainable business model.

    “The programme has not been closed down but temporarily suspended pending ongoing structural reform,” Sturge explained. “It was necessary to suspend at this time having regard to severe financial constraints coupled with the fact that it was not economically viable in its present form.”

    The minister added that the government deliberately timed the suspension to follow the completion of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations for the current Form Five cohort, minimizing disruption to students who were already close to finishing their academic cycle. Currently, government agencies are collaborating to redesign the programme to address its shortcomings: the Ministry of Defence is working in lockstep with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Reserves and the Ministry of Tertiary Education to develop a revised framework that will allow remaining Form Four students to resume their training as quickly as possible.

    A core critique of the current MiLAT model laid out by Sturge is its disproportionately high operating costs. He noted that official data shows the per-student cost of the programme is significantly higher than the cost of educating a student at a public university, a gap that has made the current model unfeasible for continued state funding.

    Since its launch, MiLAT has been framed as a key public safety intervention: it combines military-style discipline, formal academic instruction, and practical life skills training for vulnerable youth, with the explicit goal of reducing youth engagement in crime and supporting rehabilitation for at-risk young people. Opposition critics have already raised alarms that pausing the initiative will remove a critical crime prevention tool and lead to a spike in criminal activity among disconnected youth.

    Sturge pushed back firmly against these claims, rejecting the opposition’s narrative outright. He argued that the link between MiLAT’s suspension and rising crime is unfounded, pointing out that even when the programme operated at full capacity under the previous national administration, crime rates surged to unprecedented historic highs. “I am firmly of the view that temporarily suspending the programme will have little to no effect on crime and criminality, given that the last administration had these programmes yet crime skyrocketed to record levels previously unseen. I don’t buy that narrative which has become a trademark of the Opposition,” he said.

    The minister declined to address two key outstanding questions raised by reporters: he did not directly confirm or deny reports that the contracts of all non-military staff would not be renewed, leaving the employment status of these workers unclear. He also declined to provide a specific timeline for when the restructured programme will resume operations, only stating that the government is committed to completing the restructuring process “in the shortest possible time.”

  • Moonilal: Act of sabotage

    Moonilal: Act of sabotage

    A deliberate act of vandalism targeting an energy infrastructure pipeline in Barrackpore has caused an oil leak, prompting a large-scale emergency response and clean-up operation led by national energy authorities and private industry partners. Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Energy Dr. Roodal Moonilal confirmed the incident occurred along GP Road, where thieves deliberately damaged a joint pipeline operated by a private firm in partnership with state-owned Heritage Petroleum Ltd. The attackers removed a 6-foot section of the pipeline to steal the metal, leaving the line compromised and spilling crude hydrocarbon into the surrounding area.

    Minister Moonilal shared details of the incident with reporters on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony for Grant Memorial Presbyterian School, held at Susamachar Presbyterian Church in San Fernando. The case has been formally registered with local law enforcement as an act of sabotage, marking a troubling escalation of criminal targeting of critical national energy assets.

    “Individuals unlawfully entered the facility, destroyed the pipeline, and their clear intention was to steal large lengths of this critical infrastructure,” Moonilal explained to the press. “This is an act of vandalism and theft that we unreservedly condemn, and it has reached a point where criminals are directly targeting operational pipeline networks.”

    In the immediate aftermath of the incident being reported, Heritage Petroleum and multiple state agencies mobilized rapidly to contain the spill and mitigate environmental harm. Clean-up crews have already deployed specialized resources to protect nearby residential communities, active agricultural lands, and local livestock populations, while formal criminal investigations are underway.

    “We have mobilized all necessary resources for clean-up and have implemented scientific environmental monitoring protocols to protect the environment, private property, crops, livestock and all other at-risk assets,” Moonilal added. The national government is collaborating closely with law enforcement to advance the investigation and identify the perpetrators responsible for the attack.

    Looking ahead to prevent future incidents, Moonilal confirmed the government will partner with Heritage Petroleum to boost security protocols across all national oilfield operations, hardening critical infrastructure against criminal tampering and theft.

    In an official public statement released yesterday, Heritage Petroleum also joined in condemning the sabotage, echoing the minister’s concerns over public safety and environmental risk. The company confirmed that a preliminary on-site assessment verified the removal of approximately six feet of pipeline by the attackers. Immediately after receiving reports of the leak, Heritage activated its formal Incident Command System, rolling out pre-planned emergency response protocols to manage the incident.

    The company has deployed vacuum trucks and heavy industrial equipment to recover spilled oil, and has placed containment booms in nearby waterways to stop the spread of hydrocarbon contamination. Company representatives have been in direct communication with local residents and other stakeholders to provide real-time updates and any necessary support. As a precautionary public health measure, ongoing air quality testing and monitoring is being conducted to confirm that pollutant levels in the surrounding area remain within safe limits.

    “Heritage Petroleum unequivocally condemns all acts of sabotage against our infrastructure,” the company’s statement read. “These incidents not only cause loss of containment but also create unacceptable risks to public safety, the natural environment, and the critical national energy infrastructure that supports our country’s economy. In response, we have already expanded proactive precautionary measures to increase monitoring and security across all of our hydrocarbon assets.”

    The matter has been formally referred to local law enforcement for full criminal investigation, and all relevant national regulatory bodies including the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and the Environmental Management Authority have been notified of the incident, with investigations continuing as clean-up operations progress.

  • TOTING FOR TOILETS

    TOTING FOR TOILETS

    Decades of unaddressed infrastructure failures have left both correctional officers and incarcerated people at Trinidad and Tobago’s Port of Spain Prison trapped in unacceptable living and working conditions, leading the national Prison Officers’ Association (POA) to publicly pressure the Ministry of Homeland Security to approve the purchase of critical replacement water pumps.

    POA Public Secretary Lester Logie outlined the gravity of the crisis during an address to union members on Wednesday, urging the ministry’s permanent secretary to issue immediate authorization to acquire the three pumps the facility has lacked for an extended period. Without functioning pumping equipment, every section of the prison – from senior leadership offices to correctional officer dormitories and the facility’s Emergency Response Unit quarters – has been cut off from reliable running water.

    Logie detailed the grim daily reality for people at the prison: correctional staff are forced to manually carry water to flush toilets and bathe, a burden that even extends to the superintendent’s own office. Incarcerated people face the same dehumanizing conditions, hauling water to their cells for hygiene and toilet use.

    What makes the situation even more unacceptable, Logie argued, is that funding for the low-cost pumps already exists through revenue generated by the prison’s on-site commissary. The commissary, where family members purchase personal items for incarcerated people, generates consistent profits that Logie says should be allocated to improving core prison operations. He questioned where these accumulated profits have been diverted, noting that the small cost of three 3-horsepower pumps should not be an insurmountable barrier.

    “We cannot have officers continuing to work in these conditions, making requests to the association for these types of basic items when there is an available source of funds that are clearly being used for other things that are not critical for the running of the prison,” Logie said. The union leader is now calling for a full public accounting of all commissary revenue, to ensure funds are directed toward the improvement of the Prison Service as they were intended.

    The water crisis is not the only unaddressed hazard at the facility, Logie added. He revealed the prison recently faced a severe rat infestation in its ration storage room, but management took no action until the POA escalated the issue directly to the Minister of Homeland Security. Rather than prioritizing pest control to protect food supplies, Logie said prison leadership focused instead on disciplining officers who reported the problem, launching an investigation to identify which staff member shared information with the union.

    Logie urged correctional officers to continue reporting unsafe working conditions to the union regardless of potential pushback from management, emphasizing that exposing these failures is the only path to reform. He has now called for direct intervention from Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to resolve the crisis.

    As of Wednesday, repeated attempts by journalists to reach Minister Alexander and acting Commissioner of Prisons Carlos Corraspe for comment on the allegations went unanswered.

  • Advocate slams Govt’s delay explanation

    Advocate slams Govt’s delay explanation

    Migration and human rights activists in Trinidad and Tobago are pushing back against the government’s official justification for widespread delays in processing migration and residency applications, arguing that the policy punishes law-abiding migrants who have followed all regulatory requirements to gain legal status. The criticism comes in direct response to recent remarks from Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, who blamed the backlog on undocumented migrants crossing the country’s porous borders to sneak into the ongoing registration exercise, falsely claiming long-term residency in the nation.

    Speaking via telephone with the Express on Thursday, leading migrant rights advocate Sofia Figueroa-Leon rejected Alexander’s explanation as logically inconsistent and fundamentally unfair. She emphasized that there is no connection between the alleged illegal entry of new arrivals and the thousands of migrants who already completed all pre-requisite steps for registration, including submitting online applications and attending mandatory in-person appointments.

    Figueroa-Leon argued that if the government is facing operational challenges in securing its borders or managing the registration process, those issues should be addressed directly rather than shifting the burden onto compliant applicants. “If they lack sufficient staffing or the capacity to manage the process, that is an administrative failure on the government’s part, not a problem that migrants should have to bear,” she noted. “Migrants came forward voluntarily to complete the registration process because they want to live legally in this country. They fulfilled their end of the agreement, so it is the government’s responsibility to hold up its end. Putting all applications on hold because of border control failures is unprofessional and not a serious policy response. The ball is now firmly in the government’s court to move forward with processing.”

    Her criticism was echoed by other migrant support leaders and registered applicants, who echoed the call for the government to separate border enforcement from the processing of lawfully completed applications. Angie Ramnarine, coordinator of the Romaine Migrant Support Group, noted that it was predictable that registered migrants would encourage family members to join them after the government launched the regularization exercise, adding that securing national borders has always been the government’s core responsibility. “Rather than punishing people who already followed all the rules, the government should focus on doing its job to stop unauthorized new arrivals,” Ramnarine said.

    Gabriela Alvarado, a 40-year-old migrant who completed her registration years ago and has lived in the country with her family for more than a decade, also called Alexander’s comments unfair. “I stood in long lines, filled out all the required paperwork, paid my $700 fee, and did everything by the book, and we are still waiting for approval,” Alvarado said. “It’s unjust that we have to pay for the government’s failures.”

    The controversy comes as the country’s first-ever Migrant Registration Framework wraps its initial phase, which has already drawn nearly 30,000 applications from people representing more than 60 nationalities. Venezuelan nationals make up the overwhelming majority of applicants, with children accounting for more than half of the total registered population. The regularization program grants approved applicants temporary legal status to live and work in Trinidad and Tobago through September 2026.

    Even before the latest delay controversy, the program has faced widespread criticism from civil society groups. After the initial online registration portal closed earlier this year, hundreds of undocumented migrants who missed the deadline due to system glitches or a lack of clear public outreach pleaded with authorities for a final extension to sign up. Civil society organizations have also raised ongoing concerns about a lack of transparency from national security officials, documenting multiple cases where migrants who visited immigration offices to ask for application updates were instead served deportation orders.

  • POSGH Central Block at ‘97%’

    POSGH Central Block at ‘97%’

    Years of delays and unforeseen disruptions are drawing to a close for one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most high-profile public infrastructure projects, with the long-awaited Central Block expansion of Port of Spain General Hospital now entering its final construction phase. Officials confirmed this week that the $1.3 billion, 540-bed facility is 97% complete as of June 23, 2026, and is on track to reach substantial completion by the new target date of July 14.

    The update came in an official response from Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to local outlet *Express*, which had requested confirmation on whether the project had met its earlier revised completion deadline of June 30.

    Project management lead, the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, has set the July 14 milestone for the completion of all core structural and utility work, including mechanical systems, electrical wiring, plumbing, and information and communications technology infrastructure — all required pre-requisites before the facility can be formally handed over to health authorities for operational setup.

    In a statement, the ministry highlighted that the project has made meaningful progress in transforming what was long a half-finished, underutilised construction site into a functional healthcare space nearing active service. Preparations for handover are already well underway, with the entire new wing having undergone a full deep cleaning to prepare for the arrival of clinical teams and patients. Once substantial completion is certified, the Central Block will be transferred officially to the Ministry of Health to launch full clinical operations.

    First approved for construction by the previous Trinidad and Tobago government back in 2017, the project has faced a cascade of setbacks that pushed its completion far beyond initial timelines. Two of the most impactful disruptions were a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in 2018, which caused construction delays and required structural reassessments, and the global Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted supply chains, slowed worker availability, and paused work on site for extended periods. The project’s progression towards completion marks a major win for public healthcare access in the region, addressing years of unmet demand for expanded hospital capacity.

  • TDC continues to honour the legacy Runako Morton through Youth Cricket

    TDC continues to honour the legacy Runako Morton through Youth Cricket

    On July 1, 2026, youth competitive cricket returned to Charlestown, Nevis’ iconic E T W Park with the launch of the annual Runako Morton TDC Primary Schools Cricket Tournament, backed for another year by lead sponsor St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading and Development Company Limited (TDC).

    Now a staple of Nevis’ local youth sports calendar, the tournament was created and sustained to honor the memory of Runako Morton, one of Nevis’ most celebrated and accomplished professional cricketers, whose career left an indelible mark on the island’s sporting culture. Beyond organizing competitive play for young talent, the annual event is designed to carry Morton’s legacy forward, offering school-aged aspiring cricketers a structured platform to hone their technical skills, build on-field confidence, and internalize the core values that define competitive sport.

    Unlike many youth competitions that focus solely on winning, this tournament prioritizes character development alongside athletic growth, aiming to instill lifelong values including teamwork, discipline, mutual respect, leadership, resilience, fair play and good sportsmanship in all participating young players – values that translate to success off the cricket pitch in academics, personal growth and community life. This year, eight primary schools from across Nevis will compete for the title: St. Thomas’ Primary, Charlestown Primary, Voilet O Jeffers Nicholls Primary, Maude Crosse Primary, Ivor Walters Primary, Elzabeth Pemberton Primary, St. James’ Primary and Joycelyn Liburd Primary. All teams will compete in a welcoming yet competitive environment built to showcase emerging young talent across the island.

    Ernie France, Head of TDC’s Nevis Operations, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to the tournament in his opening remarks, noting that youth investment remains a core priority for the local business. “At TDC, we believe that investing in our youth is one of the most meaningful investments we can make,” France said. “The Runako Morton Primary Schools Cricket Tournament not only celebrates athletic excellence but also helps shape future leaders by teaching the values of commitment, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. We are proud to continue supporting this outstanding initiative and to honour the enduring legacy of Runako Morton, whose passion, determination, and achievements continue to inspire our young cricketers on Nevis.”

    Organizers and sponsors alike note that the tournament fills a critical role in Nevis’ broader cricket ecosystem: it acts as an early scouting platform to identify and nurture the next generation of professional cricketing talent from the island, while reinforcing the deep sporting heritage that defines Nevis’ local community. For participating students, it is more than a school competition – it is a chance to connect with one of the island’s greatest sporting heroes while building skills that will serve them for life.

  • Prime Minister Drew pleased with strong progress and job creation at Basseterre High School Construction Site

    Prime Minister Drew pleased with strong progress and job creation at Basseterre High School Construction Site

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – July 1, 2026 – On Wednesday afternoon, Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew led an on-site inspection of the long-awaited new Basseterre High School construction project, pushing back against public rumors of stalled work and showcasing the tangible, rapid progress that has transformed the site over the government’s term in office.

    Accompanied by the project’s lead manager Vivake Khan, Drew walked the entire active construction zone, where dozens of local construction workers and specialized technical teams are currently advancing work on what stands as one of the federation’s largest and most consequential public education infrastructure investments in recent decades.

    The prime minister’s visit was explicitly scheduled to address growing speculation among members of the public that little to no work had been carried out on the site. In remarks to reporters and stakeholders during the tour, Drew emphasized that he wanted citizens to see the scale of progress firsthand, rather than relying on secondhand claims.

    “We have heard repeated claims that nothing is happening at the Basseterre High School site,” Drew noted during the tour. “That is why I came here today: I want every person in our country to see just how much work is actually underway. I believe most people will be genuinely surprised by how far we have come in such a short period.”

    Drew drew particular attention to the large local workforce currently employed at the site, framing the project as a win for both education and national employment. “We have dozens of local workers here on site, working alongside international technical experts, and we are incredibly proud that this major public investment is putting paychecks in the pockets of our own citizens,” he said.

    For the current Labour Government, the new Basseterre High School is the fulfillment of a decades-old unmet national promise. Drew highlighted that prior administrations allocated $21 million to the project without laying a single foundation block, but in just three and a half years, his government has moved the project to active, large-scale construction. “Walk this site with me, and you will not just see laid blocks – you will see poured concrete, erected structural steel, and locally sourced quarry materials. This is tangible, real progress that cannot be denied,” Drew said.

    The prime minister confirmed that his administration will maintain close, regular oversight of the project to ensure it stays on its scheduled completion timeline. Once finished, the new facility will be a fully turnkey, climate-resilient campus designed to withstand the growing threats of extreme weather in the Caribbean. It will come fully equipped with modern learning spaces, state-of-the-art science laboratories, updated digital education technology, and new furniture and equipment, giving students and teaching staff a unified, safe, and innovative environment for learning.

    Beyond its core educational benefits, the multi-million-dollar project is delivering sustained economic benefits across Saint Kitts and Nevis. It has created ongoing full-time and part-time employment for local construction workers, and spurred new opportunities for local suppliers and related service sectors, boosting near-term economic activity while building a stronger foundation for the country’s long-term human development.

  • Gonsalves confirms ULP gov’t was in talks to lease cruise port

    Gonsalves confirms ULP gov’t was in talks to lease cruise port

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves, head of the Unity Labour Party, has broken his silence on the newly signed cruise terminal concession deal with Global Ports Holdings (GPH), confirming that his administration held extensive, multi-round negotiations with the international port operator before leaving office following the November general election.

    Earlier this month, on June 10, the newly installed New Democratic Party (NDP) government formalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GPH that sets the stage for exclusive negotiations over a 30-year concession agreement. The deal outlines a planned EC$250 million investment to carry out phased modernization work on the Kingstown cruise terminal, with provisions that allow local Vincentian investors to acquire up to a 30% stake in the project and guarantee local representation on the venture’s board of directors.

    Speaking this week on Star Radio, the Unity Labour Party’s official broadcast platform, Gonsalves launched pointed criticism of the NDP administration, accusing the sitting government of moving forward with a 30-year commitment without disclosing critical detailed terms of the arrangement to the public. He stressed that while the NDP has publicly announced the MOU, it has released no specific information about the core financial terms that will shape the project’s long-term impact on the country.

    Gonsalves recalled that his own administration engaged in multiple rounds of talks with GPH representatives, including a face-to-face meeting with GPH Chairman Mehmet Kuhmen. Shortly before the November 2025 general election that ended the Unity Labour Party’s term, GPH submitted a draft proposal to his administration, though Gonsalves has not released the specific content of that document. He also confirmed that GPH was one of multiple firms that approached his government to pitch proposals for upgrading the country’s cruise infrastructure.

    When GPH first presented its vision for the project, Gonsalves said, he walked the initial delegation through the existing port site and shared his administration’s development blueprint: constructing a brand-new terminal on the old port land, followed by a hotel and a purpose-built performing arts centre on adjacent parcels. Gonsalves noted that GPH representatives immediately signaled they were not interested in pursuing a development of that scale.

    As part of his administration’s due diligence, Gonsalves said he consulted with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who reported that Antigua’s existing partnership with GPH in St. John’s has been satisfactory. However, Gonsalves also highlighted cautionary examples from other Caribbean nations: an agreement with GPH reached by the former Timothy Harris administration in St. Kitts and Nevis was ultimately scrapped after a review found it did not serve the country’s best interests, while a cruise port concession signed by the Freundel Stuart administration in Barbados was put on hold when the Mia Mottley-led government took power.

    Despite those past canceled deals, Gonsalves clarified that he does not oppose a partnership between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and GPH. His research, he said, confirmed that GPH is a well-established, professional operator with strong industry standing.

    After the third round of talks with GPH, Gonsalves said, his administration intentionally paused progress to request full, specific details of the proposed agreement, a step the NDP has skipped according to the opposition leader. He emphasized that while he understands GPH is a for-profit enterprise that is not operating as a philanthropic organization, the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have a non-negotiable stake in securing a fair, transparent deal.

    Gonsalves shared tentative terms that were discussed during his administration’s talks: GPH initially proposed an investment of US$30 million, with the option to allocate additional capital later. The phased plan the firm presented called for first repairing and upgrading the existing terminal facility, then building an additional new terminal. GPH proposed managing both facilities (without claiming ownership) in exchange for a long-term concession lease, drawing revenue from management fees and a share of head tax collected from cruise lines. However, Gonsalves stressed that GPH never finalized key details during his term, including the exact length of the proposed lease, the projected financial return for the firm, and what percentage of head tax revenue GPH would retain.

    “The devil is in the details, which is why we never signed on to anything,” Gonsalves said. He called on the NDP government to release full transparency, arguing that key details – including total project costs over the 30-year term, full financing structures, and the split of head tax revenue – must be publicly vetted to avoid a scenario where the country ends up paying out more than the value of GPH’s initial investment. “What worries people is that you agree in advance that you’re going to give them 30 years without knowing any details,” he added.