Author: M. Doyle

A Belair man who admitted to threatening the life of a Massy Stores employee while armed with a knife has been released on bond after appearing before the Serious Offences Court. The accused, Akim Gaymes, appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John on February 2, 2026, where he pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit an offence, namely wounding. The charge stemmed from an incident that occurred on January 14, 2026, at Arnos Vale. According to the facts presented in court, the complainant, Joanne Samuel of Belmont, is a Loss Prevention Officer employed at Massy Stores Arnos Vale. Her duties…

Government and private-sector leaders are continuing discussions on the country’s labour shortage, with particular concern about the lack of workers in construction and agriculture. Speaking on NBC Radio’s Morning Cup programme on Wednesday, January 29, Minister of National Security, Disaster Management and Immigration, St. Clair Leacock, said the issue is not a lack of jobs, but a lack of willingness among some able-bodied individuals to take up available work. According to the minister, employers are actively searching for workers, while many people remain unemployed for reasons unrelated to job availability. He described this as a disconnect between those who need…

Prime Minister Godwin Friday has dismissed criticisms raised by Opposition Senator Keisal Peters during the recent debate on the estimates, saying her comments showed a lack of familiarity with the document and failed to reflect the overall direction of government policy. Speaking after the exchange, Friday said Peters “clearly didn’t read the estimates very carefully,” adding that at one point he wondered which part of the document she actually reviewed. He suggested that her remarks bore little resemblance to what was contained in the estimates themselves. The Prime Minister described her approach to questioning the budget as scattershot, accusing her…

A Vincentian woman is appealing for assistance as she prepares to travel overseas for urgent fibroid surgery, after exhausting local treatment options and facing a funding shortfall that threatens to delay the life-changing procedure. The woman, who has been battling fibroids for several years, says the condition has steadily worsened, affecting her health, daily life, and fertility. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow in and around the uterus and are known to disproportionately affect Black women. In her case, the growths have caused chronic pain, heavy bleeding, and increasing concern about long-term reproductive damage. After seeking medical advice locally in…

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is rolling out a major digital upgrade that will allow motorists to renew vehicle licences and driver’s licences online by March, marking a significant shift in how government services are delivered. The introduction of personalised motor vehicle stickers is the first step in a wider digital transformation plan being implemented by the Department. Officials say the initiative is aimed at reducing congestion at revenue offices, improving efficiency, and making services more accessible across the country. Under the new system, garage operators will enter vehicle inspection data directly into a computer…

Government Senator Laverne King has outlined what she described as a fundamental shift in how state-owned media and government information agencies will operate, distancing the current administration from what she characterized as years of political propaganda under the previous government. Speaking on Tuesday, King addressed concerns surrounding the role and future of the Agency for Public Information (API), arguing that government communication had historically been misused to advance partisan interests rather than to inform the public objectively. According to the minister, state agencies were previously turned into “propaganda tools,” with political messaging deliberately woven into official reporting as a way…

Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves has signaled that he remains prepared to return to the courtroom if circumstances demand it, confirming that his license to practice law is still active and that he would not hesitate to use his legal training to defend the rights of citizens. Gonsalves made the remarks while addressing concerns over what he described as troubling reports of materials and benefits being taken away from individuals despite having been legitimately granted. According to the opposition leader, the situations outlined to him raise serious questions about fairness, due process, and the treatment of ordinary Vincentians. “I still hold…

Defeated Member of Parliament Carlos James has raised alarm over what he says is the sudden displacement of scores of public sector workers, claiming that approximately 150 employees attached to the Ministry of Housing have received letters and are now without jobs. Speaking publicly on the issue, James said he is seeking clarity on the legal basis for sending the workers home and questioned whether the government has effectively discontinued the housing programme under which they were employed. James said the affected workers were not given clear explanations and that many are now facing uncertainty about their livelihoods. He argued…

Former Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves used sharp language at a press conference today, accusing government MP Conroy Huggins of misleading residents of Barrouallie about his role in infrastructure works in the community. Speaking to reporters, Gonsalves said Huggins has been telling people that he was responsible for the road leading down to the blackfish processing facility in Barrouallie, a claim the opposition leader flatly rejected as untrue. According to Gonsalves, the road project did not originate with Huggins and was already in motion before the last general election. He said the works were tied to the…

The presentation of the 2026 National Budget and Appropriation Bill will not take place as early as initially anticipated, as the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration continues preparations to ensure the document is fully aligned with its policy priorities, according to Deputy Prime Minister St Clair Leacock. The NDP formed the new government following its victory in the November 27, 2025 general elections, marking a change in administration and the beginning of a new policy direction for the country. Speaking during an interview on Boom FM on Monday, January 19, 2026, Leacock said the government had initially hoped to present…