By Admin. Updated 7:11 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has slammed as “outlandish,” claims that a new deal between the European Union and other countries which St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed onto will require this country to change its laws regarding same-sex relations and other related matters.
The issue drew the attention of many persons on social media today (November 20) after an online news media entity published an article headlined – “SVG signs new EU deal that includes legalising abortion, same-sex relations – iWitness News”.
The new deal – the EU-OACPS partnership agreement also called the Samoa Agreement “is the overarching framework for EU relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries,” the European Council published on its website.
According to CARICOM’s website, the deal was signed on November 15, 2023 in Samoa.
The deal which was signed by some Caribbean countries replaces the Cotonou agreement – the previous partnership framework between the EU and African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries.
The article that created discussion on the issue was premised mainly on the views of a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port of Spain, Jason Gordon.
In the article, Mr. Gordon was quoted as saying:
“They will have to impose abortion legislation, transgender, LBGTQ, comprehensive sex education, a whole range of values will be imposed because of the signing of that document,” referring to the countries that signed onto the agreement.
In a video statement published on the Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, tonight (November 20), Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said, the European Union has its own agenda with several things, as is well known, but “St. Vincent and the Grenadines hasn’t signed on to any matter which demands of us that we alter our legislative provisions related to issues such as same-sex, marriages [or] issues regarding transgender”.
“There is no commitment for us to change our laws in relation to any of these matters,” he said.
The matter related to the constitutionality of same-sex unions and relations in many Caribbean countries is currently before the courts.
In many English-speaking Caribbean countries like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the issue of buggery, as addressed in the Criminal Code, has come up for legal consideration.
Dr. Gonsalves said: “Indeed, there is a question which is before the court and the court will make a determination as to whether the provision in the Criminal Code which criminalizes homosexual conduct, whether that is unconstitutional or not, and the government is insisting in the courts that it is not unconstitutional”.
The prime minister added that the court ought not to be the body to adjudicate that matter, and that instead, it should be the Parliament that should be dealing with that particular matter.
Download the 403-page agreement text here.
According to the European Council, the new partnership agreement will serve as the new legal framework for EU relations with 79 countries. This includes 48 African, 16 Caribbean and 15 Pacific countries.
Around 2 billion people are covered by the agreement, the European Council said.
The agreement aims to strengthen the capacity of the EU and the ACP countries to address global challenges together. It lays down common principles and covers six priority areas, including, democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.
The provisional application of the Agreement will start on 1 January 2024, according to the European Commission.
The Agreement will enter into force upon consent by the European Parliament and ratification by the Parties, i.e. all EU Member States and at least two-thirds of the OACPS Members, according to the European Commission.
Watch the entire video of PM Gonsalves’ views on the issue here:
One News SVG 