Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves says he has scored a political victory after the government withdrew two controversial pieces of legislation that had sparked heated debate in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The bills — the Constitution Amendment Bill and the Representation of the People Amendment Bill — were pulled by the administration of Prime Minister Godwin Friday following growing public and political criticism.
The proposed laws had sought to amend parts of the Constitution and electoral rules, including provisions that critics said would have applied changes retroactively to October 27, 1979.
Gonsalves strongly opposed the bills, accusing the government of attempting to “change the rules after the event of nomination and election”.
He claimed the legislation was introduced at a sensitive time, ahead of upcoming election-related court petitions expected to be heard later this year.
According to him, those petitions could challenge the eligibility of certain elected officials, including questions surrounding dual citizenship involving government figures such as Minister Fitzgerald Bramble.
Gonsalves said the intention behind the bills was to influence matters that are already before the courts.
He warned that such action would undermine the independence of the judiciary and breach the separation of powers.
“You cannot change the rules after the fact to suit a political situation,” he said, adding that Parliament should not interfere with matters that are subject to legal proceedings.
Although the government has said the bills were withdrawn to allow for wider public consultation, Gonsalves rejected that explanation.
He insisted the legislation should not be reintroduced in any form.
“These bills must die a natural death,” he said, arguing that the courts must be allowed to decide the election petitions without political interference.
Gonsalves also said the episode has damaged public confidence in the government, describing the attempt to pass the bills as a “brazen” misuse of authority.
The withdrawal of the legislation now shifts attention to the upcoming court cases, which are expected to examine questions surrounding eligibility and electoral law in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
