标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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.

In a significant development following the dramatic arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by United States authorities, regional leaders are calling for CARICOM’s active diplomatic intervention. Ralph Gonsalves, former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and prominent opposition leader, has proposed that the Caribbean Community leverage its unique position to facilitate crucial dialogue between Washington and Caracas.

Gonsalves, a longstanding Maduro ally, emphasized during a Kingstown press conference that the 15-member regional bloc must transcend mere statements and assume the role of impartial interlocutor. He advocated for CARICOM to work through both United Nations channels—noting Guyana’s current non-permanent Security Council membership—and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to establish sustained diplomatic engagement.

The veteran statesman outlined grave concerns about regional stability, warning that military intervention to install an alternative government would inevitably lead to ‘pitch battles’ and widespread chaos. He projected catastrophic secondary effects including massive refugee flows, economic disruption, and infiltration by criminal elements across Caribbean nations, particularly affecting tourism-dependent economies already experiencing flight cancellations following Maduro’s capture.

Gonsalves highlighted the immediate economic repercussions, noting that the U.S. military operation had already grounded numerous flights to Caribbean and South American destinations, directly impacting the vital tourism sector. Beyond economic concerns, he stressed the potential security vacuum that could emerge if ‘bad men and women’ exploited the crisis to create mayhem across neighboring islands.

While acknowledging the limitations of international institutions, Gonsalves insisted that CARICOM’s perceived neutrality as ‘the smallest and weakest partners’ positions the bloc ideally to facilitate ‘mature conversations’ aimed at ensuring peace, security, and inclusive development. He cautioned that without dialogue, the alternative would be conflict, emphasizing that ‘if people don’t talk, people will war.’

The former prime minister suggested that while some issues might resolve through negotiation, others might require acceptance of ‘mutually agreed dissatisfaction.’ He deliberately avoided criticizing specific CARICOM members, emphasizing the critical need for regional unity during this potentially transformative geopolitical crisis that has already prompted the largest voluntary migration in modern times with approximately eight million Venezuelans leaving their country during Maduro’s tenure.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ushered in a new era of leadership with the inauguration of Stanley ‘Stalky’ John as the nation’s eighth Governor General. The distinguished lawyer and former parliamentarian took his oath of office during a formal ceremony at Government House in Old Montrose on Tuesday, succeeding Dame Susan Dougan following her six-year tenure as head of state.

Prime Minister Godwin Friday, who recently assumed office after his New Democratic Party’s decisive electoral victory, presided over the transition. In his address, Friday characterized the appointment as a moment of national fortune, emphasizing John’s deep-rooted connection to the nation. “As a son of the soil, whose love of country is second to none and knows no bounds, I have no doubt that you will be exemplary in your service as Head of State,” the Prime Minister declared.

The ceremony served dual purposes: installing the new Governor General while honoring the legacy of his predecessor. Dame Susan Dougan concluded her remarkable 50-year public service career, which included roles as Cabinet Secretary and head of state. Prime Minister Friday expressed the nation’s collective gratitude for her “magnificent service” and “enduring and outstanding” contributions to national development.

Governor General John brings substantial legal and political credentials to the role. As a King’s Counsel, he has established himself as a prominent barrister known for his rigorous representation and professional dignity. His political journey includes service as a senator for the St. Vincent Labour Party (1984-1989), Parliamentary Representative for East St. George under the Unity Labour Party (1998-2001), and leadership of the SVLP (1992-1994).

Prime Minister Friday, who describes John as a long-standing friend, highlighted the new Governor General’s consistent commitment to excellence throughout his career. “Knowing him as well as I do, I can say that he could do it no other way, for he knows no other way but to give of his best,” Friday remarked.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged John’s family for their support in enabling him to accept this significant responsibility. The transition occurs alongside the recent formation of a new government that Prime Minister Friday asserts has received a “clear and unmistakable mandate” to drive progressive change and national unity.

Distinguished Caribbean statesman Ralph Gonsalves, former Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has raised profound questions regarding the United States’ apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, challenging whether the operation constitutes legitimate law enforcement or represents a politically motivated intervention.

Addressing journalists at a Kingstown press conference, the seasoned politician and legal expert emphasized the critical importance of distinguishing between standard judicial procedures and potential geopolitical power plays. “We must not conflate military intervention or political operations with authentic law enforcement activities,” Gonsalves stated, adding, “The fundamental question remains: Is this purely a law enforcement action?”

With twenty-four years of regional leadership experience and having recently facilitated diplomatic talks between Venezuela and Guyana in December 2023 amid territorial disputes, Gonsalves brings considerable credibility to the discussion. While deliberately avoiding speculation about specific motivations behind Maduro’s capture, he expressed concern about broader implications for international justice systems.

The veteran statesman outlined established extradition frameworks within CARICOM nations, noting that member states maintain bilateral treaties and domestic legislation governing such procedures. “When the United States alleges an individual has violated American law, proper channels exist through mutual legal assistance agreements,” he explained, while acknowledging some constitutions prohibit citizen extradition altogether.

Gonsalves raised particular concern about Maduro’s prospect for a fair trial in New York, ironically referencing President Trump’s own assertions about judicial bias in the region. Drawing parallels with historical precedents, he cited numerous instances where charges against leaders were subsequently revealed as fabricated, including the 19th-century abduction of Nigerian King Jaja who was exiled to St. Vincent, and more recent cases involving Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The former prime minister framed current developments as symptomatic of eroding multilateralism, explicitly connecting Trump’s embrace of a modernized Monroe Doctrine—sometimes referred to as the “Trump Corollary” or “Donroe Doctrine”—to concerning patterns of hemispheric intervention. “This represents nothing less than the undermining of the multilateral system and the enthronement of unilateralism,” Gonsalves concluded, urging Caribbean citizens to educate themselves about these complex geopolitical dynamics.