Author: News Admin

What many Vincentians had long hoped for is now a reality. A teacher dismissed under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate has returned to the classroom — marking the first concrete sign that promises by the New Democratic Party (NDP) government are being fulfilled. On Friday, December 5, 2025, Ann‑Marie Ballantyne — a former French and Spanish teacher at St. Vincent Grammar School (SVGS) — walked back into her old classroom. Ballantyne had been dismissed in November 2021 after refusing to comply with the then-government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Ballantyne told the media she returned to SVGS earlier in the week to express…

Former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says his current security arrangements stem from a decision made by Cabinet during the early years of the Unity Labour Party’s administration. However, on Monday, Minister of National Security St. Clair Leacock confirmed that all security detail allocations — including those for former leaders — are now under review. Leacock, who was addressing concerns related to the security detail of the Leader of the Opposition, said the existing system is being evaluated to ensure consistency and adherence to policy. He disclosed that the assigned officers for former prime ministers…

Former Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has pushed back against criticism surrounding the security personnel seen accompanying him during recent walk-throughs of his North Central Windward constituency. Videos circulated online show Gonsalves moving through communities with at least two members of his former prime ministerial security detail, sparking commentary—particularly from voices aligned with the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP). Speaking on Star Radio, Gonsalves made it clear that the arrangement is not new, nor is it a personal request. “I understand that when I was walking about and there were a couple of security officers with me, that attracted some…

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced that the Annual Christmas Road Cleaning Programme will commence on Monday, December 8, following approval by Cabinet through the Hon. Nigel Stephenson, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Physical Planning.Managed by the Roads Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA), the programme is expected to cost EC$3 million, run for six days, and employ over 7,000 Vincentians across the country. The initiative will conclude on Monday, December 15.This year’s programme is shorter than the usual eight days due to the delayed start. The revised timeline ensures that all workers can be paid…

Castries, Saint Lucia — Today Saint Lucia warmly welcomed the former Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who arrived on island to witness the historic swearing-in of Honourable Philip J. Pierre as Prime Minister at 3:30 PM. The distinguished regional leader’s presence underscores the deep friendship, mutual respect, and enduring partnership shared among Caribbean nations. His visit highlights the importance of stability, cooperation, and democratic tradition across the region. Upon landing in Saint Lucia, the former Vincentian leader expressed admiration for the peaceful transition of leadership and extended congratulations to Honourable Pierre. He emphasized that regional unity remains…

As Saint Vincent and the Grenadines enters a new political chapter with the New Democratic Party (NDP) now in government, attention has quietly shifted to the rebuilding project facing the Unity Labour Party (ULP). After more than two decades in power, the ULP now occupies unfamiliar territory: the Opposition benches. And with that change comes a fundamental question for Labour’s next generation: Who will help reshape the party’s identity from opposition, and who will carry its voice into the Senate? Among the emerging names in political conversation, one stands out — not for longevity, but for narrative power: Vakeesha John,…

Retired police officer Gideon Nathan, a 20-year veteran of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), is accusing his former employer of withholding the retirement payout he expected to receive when he left the job on medical grounds. Nathan recently contacted CLIPLET NEWS, saying he feels “unfairly” and “disrespectfully” treated by the system he served for two decades, and that his pleas for a proper audience with the authorities continue to go unanswered. His story reflects not only a personal financial crisis, but also raises questions about how injured officers are treated when their years of service…

A remarkable and increasingly public movement is unfolding across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). On social media, in community circles, and in conversations across the islands, one name has risen to the forefront of national discussion: Brenton Smith. Once a long-serving police officer and former head of the Police Welfare Association, Smith has unexpectedly become the figure many Vincentians are calling to lead the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) as its next Commissioner. This wave of support did not originate from political halls or official committees. It began, instead, among ordinary citizens — those who…

On the afternoon of April 13, 2021, as La Soufrière’s ash darkened the sky, 60-year-old businessman and block-maker Cornelius John sat on the unfinished porch of his Diamond Estate home. What happened next has been retold many times in interviews, courtrooms and political platforms — but for John, the core of the story remains simple: he was shot in his own yard, and four years later he believes justice has never truly come. The “Cornelius John matter”, as it is now known across St Vincent and the Grenadines, has become more than a single criminal case. It is a test…

More than seven years after the controversial arrest and psychiatric detention of Yugge Farrell, many Vincentians are still questioning whether the state’s response in 2018 was appropriate, proportionate, and free from political influence. As a new administration takes office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, renewed public interest has emerged in reexamining the case and the processes that guided it. A Case That Captured National Attention In January 2018, Farrell, then 22 years old, was charged with using “abusive language” toward attorney Karen Duncan-Gonsalves, who was at the time serving in the Attorney General’s Chambers. The case drew immediate attention…