Author: News Admin

Ronnia Durham-Balcombe was officially appointed and sworn in today as Speaker of the House of Assembly, marking an important moment in the parliamentary affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Her appointment was confirmed during a formal sitting of the House, where Durham-Balcombe was presented to members and took the prescribed oaths of office in accordance with constitutional and parliamentary requirements. With the swearing-in completed, she now assumes responsibility for presiding over sittings of the House, maintaining order during debates, and ensuring that proceedings are conducted in strict adherence to the Constitution and Standing Orders. As Speaker, Durham-Balcombe serves as…

Prime Minister Godwin Friday has revealed that he has not yet taken up residence at the official Prime Minister’s Residence, citing the building’s poor condition and its current unsuitability for living. The disclosure was made during a live interview on Hot 97.1 SVG on Tuesday, where the Prime Minister explained that while he intends to occupy the residence, significant repairs are required before it can be deemed habitable. Dr. Friday emphasized that the official residence is public property, belonging to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and should therefore be maintained at a standard appropriate to the office…

Prime Minister Godwin Friday disclosed on Tuesday that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is carrying a national debt of approximately $3.1 billion, a revelation made during a live interview on Hot 97.1 SVG. Speaking candidly on the station’s popular morning programme, Dr. Friday addressed the country’s financial standing while responding to questions on governance, public expenditure, and fiscal responsibility. He explained that the debt is spread across a combination of regional and international creditors, including the Caribbean Development Bank, bilateral partner governments, and various financial instruments. According to the Prime Minister, the debt accumulated over years and represents long-standing financial…

Public servants across St. Vincent and the Grenadines have something to smile about as January approaches. Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday confirmed this morning that a long-discussed salary bonus is officially on the way. Speaking on AM Mayhem on Hot97, the Prime Minister stepped into the studio to address several national issues, including the growing public conversation around government workers’ compensation. One of the biggest takeaways from the interview: the bonus is real, approved, and coming soon. According to Dr. Friday, the payment is expected in the latter part of January and will be issued separately from regular salary payments.…

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is expected to roll out a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme in 2026, signalling a significant shift in the country’s economic policy framework. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Prime Minister Godwin Friday, who confirmed that the long-debated initiative will move from concept to implementation under a New Democratic Party administration. The introduction of a CBI programme has been a central pillar of the NDP’s economic platform, with party leaders consistently arguing that the initiative could attract new foreign direct investment, support post-pandemic recovery efforts, and help finance national development priorities. Once implemented, St.…

Opposition Leader and Former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has announced the names of the two senators who will represent him in Parliament when the new session begins. In a video announcement posted to Facebook on Monday, December 22, 2025, Gonsalves said that Carlos James and Keisal Peters will serve as Opposition senators. However, Gonsalves noted that there remains some uncertainty surrounding the opening of Parliament. He said he is not sure whether he will attend the first sitting and is also uncertain whether both senators will be present, as some security arrangements are still being worked out. “These are matters…

An elderly dual national of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the United Kingdom says he has been forced into years of effective exile after what he alleges was a politically motivated police operation that stripped him of his property, his safety, and his right to return home. William H. Harriss, 82, says he has spent the past six years living abroad in fear, unable to return to his home in Ratho Mill, St Vincent. He alleges that in 2019 police raided his house using a search warrant obtained with false information, confiscated his personal belongings, and then disappeared from…

After years of concerns about deteriorating facilities and working conditions under the previous ULP administration, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is finally receiving sustained, hands-on attention at the highest level of government. Since the formation of the new NDP administration, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Immigration, Major the Hon. St. Clair A. Leacock, has taken a notably different approach to policing oversight, placing himself on the ground alongside senior leadership of the force to assess conditions first-hand. In recent days, Major Leacock, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police Enville Williams and other…

As anticipation builds for the first sitting of the new Parliament, expected to take place on December 23, questions remain over whether Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves will announce his two Senate appointments in time for the opening of the House. Multiple sources have confirmed that the Parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is expected to convene on December 23, marking its first meeting following the New Democratic Party’s decisive victory in the recent general election. However, as of mid-December, Dr. Gonsalves has not publicly named the two senators to be appointed on the advice of the Opposition Leader, nor…

A family from Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is urgently seeking information regarding Donley Hazell, who has been reported missing while at sea. Hazell, a Vincentian national, was a crew member aboard the vessel Gulf Meridian, which reportedly departed Santo Domingo en route to Montserrat, with onward travel to Antigua. According to information received by the family, the last known transmission from the vessel was on December 13, after which it went off radar. No further communication has been established since. Relatives say the news has been especially devastating, as Hazell was expected to return home during this period…