St. Vincent PM dismisses opposition petitions challenging election over citizenship

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Godwin Friday has brushed aside two election petitions filed by candidates of the opposition Unity Labour Party (ULP) challenging his victory and that of Foreign Minister Fitz Bramble in the November 27 general election.

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The petitions were filed on Thursday by Carlos Williams, who unsuccessfully sought to unseat Friday as Member of Parliament for Northern Grenadines, and Luke Browne, who lost his fourth bid for the East Kingstown seat.

Both petitions ask the court to rule that Friday and Bramble were not qualified to be nominated because they hold Canadian citizenship. While both men were born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, they acquired Canada citizenship as adults.

The ULP argues that by doing so, they acknowledged allegiance to a foreign power, contrary to the Vincentian Constitution. However, Friday and Bramble maintain that the Constitution makes special provision for Commonwealth citizens, allowing them to contest elections even if they are not Vincentian citizens.

Friday has represented the Northern Grenadines since 2001, while Bramble, first elected in 2020, is serving his second term as MP for East Kingstown.

The governing New Democratic Party (NDP) won 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats in the November 27 polls, ending the ULP’s 24-year hold on power.

Asked by iWitness News to comment on the petitions, Friday appeared unfazed.

“Well, what I would say … is that this is the Christmas season. The people gave us an overwhelming mandate, even after they campaigned about all the things that they wanted to raise, which I suppose they will raise in their petition,” he said.

“We are here to serve the people. This is the Christmas season. Today is VAT-free shopping day, and the Grinch will not steal this Christmas from the people. OK? That is what I have to say about that,” the prime minister added with a chuckle.

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Friday was speaking to reporters under a gallery in Kingstown as Vincentians took advantage of the country’s first VAT-free shopping day since the tax was introduced in 2007. The NDP had promised to introduce VAT-free shopping twice a year as part of measures aimed at easing the cost-of-living pressures faced by citizens.