Author: News Admin

Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves has confirmed that his administration engaged in direct discussions with the United States government on proposals for the acceptance of third-country refugees and deportees, but firmly rejected the idea, arguing that it posed serious risks to small island states and offered little benefit to United States. Speaking on Wednesday, Gonsalves outlined the case he said he made to US officials, stressing that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would not accept third-country nationals under such arrangements. He warned that even a small influx of foreign deportees could have disproportionate and potentially catastrophic consequences for micro-states. “Out of…

The United States has suspended visa processing for nationals of St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of a sweeping immigration move affecting 75 countries worldwide, according to reports emerging from Washington. The measure applies specifically to visas intended for permanent migration and excludes non-immigrant categories such as visitor, student, work, and exchange visas. St Vincent and the Grenadines is among several Caribbean nations included in the reported list. Other regional countries potentially impacted are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. While US officials have not released full operational details,…

Former Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has alleged that poor and vulnerable citizens are facing increasing hardship following his party’s crushing 14–1 defeat to the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the recent general election. Speaking during a Facebook livestream two days ago, Gonsalves reflected on the aftermath of the election loss and shared several accounts which he said illustrate the struggles now being faced by ordinary people. According to the former prime minister, one individual was compelled to visit his private residence after unsuccessfully seeking assistance from the Ministry of National Mobilisation. The person, he said, was attempting to secure…

Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has introduced his own twist on a familiar political proverb, arguing that in the current climate of governance, “powerlessness corrupts — and absolute powerlessness corrupts absolutely.” The former prime minister delivered the remark while criticising what he described as confusion, interference and a lack of structured authority within the newly elected NDP administration. Gonsalves pointed to a recent incident in Byera involving BRAGSA workers who were clearing a river. According to him, an unelected NDP figure attempted to stop the work and demanded to know who had authorised it, insisting that nothing should take place…

Several Caribbean islands have recently indicated they are willing to accept third-country deportees from the United States, and that development places St. Vincent and the Grenadines in an interesting position. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have already signalled cooperation with the United States request to receive certain individuals who are removed from the U.S. but cannot be returned to their home countries. The exact terms of these arrangements have not been made fully public, so it is not yet known whether they are humanitarian, temporary, or part of wider security discussions. What is evident, however, is that some regional governments…

Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves suggested on Monday that crime trends were more favourable under his administration, pointing to a decline in homicides in 2024 even as he acknowledged a recent uptick in violent incidents since the change in government. The former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Unity Labour Party described crime as a “complex” issue, rooted in local and regional dynamics that extend beyond immediate political blame. Addressing journalists and general public, Gonsalves pointed to official figures showing a spike in serious incidents since the New Democratic Party assumed office after the November 2025 elections. According to his…

A Vincentian woman has raised serious concerns about the enforcement of court orders after she and her family allegedly remain unpaid months after compensation was ordered by the Magistrates’ Court. Speaking directly to the Cliplet News, Laurette Stephens, who is reporting on her own experience, said the matter involves her niece, Sorhea Jackson, of Queen’s Drive, who was charged in court for causing bodily harm on multiple occasions. According to Stephens, the charges stemmed from separate incidents involving herself, her daughter Topanga Henville, and her nephew—who is also the brother of the accused. Stephens explained that when the matter was…

United States federal authorities are investigating a possible connection between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the seizure of a luxury aircraft allegedly linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to official statements and international media reports, as part of a wider probe into suspected violations of US sanctions against Venezuela. The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was seized by US authorities during an ongoing federal investigation. The seizure was confirmed in a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice, which said the aircraft was taken in connection with alleged violations of US export control and sanctions…

Former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has strongly condemned any attempt to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, warning that such an action would constitute a serious breach of international law. Gonsalves made the remarks on Monday during an Opposition Media Conference broadcast live on Facebook Live, where he addressed regional and international political developments. Speaking forcefully, the former prime minister said that the seizure or forced removal of a sitting head of state would violate established principles of sovereignty and non-intervention enshrined in international law. He stressed that disputes involving governments must be resolved through diplomacy, dialogue, and lawful international mechanisms,…

U.S. prosecutors have alleged that politicians across parts of the Caribbean were tied to a vast cocaine trafficking network that moved drugs from South America toward the United States, according to a newly unsealed superseding indictment filed in federal court in New York. The filing, released by the U.S. Department of Justice, describes what authorities say was a transnational narcotics operation built on corruption, protection payments, and political influence. The indictment names multiple alleged conspirators and includes accusations against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who U.S. authorities say is now in U.S. custody. According to prosecutors, cocaine traffickers relied on political…