Registered Voters Seek to Disqualify Two NDP Candidates Over Citizenship

From left: New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate for East Kingstown Mr. Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble and NDP candidate for Northern Grenadines Dr. Godwin Friday. Images from the NDP.

By S.Browne. Updated 5:11 p.m., Monday, November 10, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Registered voters in East Kingstown and the Northern Grenadines have submitted letters to the Returning Officers seeking to disqualify Member of Parliament Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble and President of the New Democratic Party, as well as, Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday, citing concerns over their citizenship ahead of the 2025 general elections.

According to the letters, the voters argue that both candidates may be ineligible to represent their constituencies because they hold foreign citizenship.

For Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday, the voters’ letter states that his nomination may be ineligible under Section 26(1) of the Constitution, which states:

“(1) No person shall be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Representative or Senator if he —
(a) Is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power or state;”

The letter notes that Dr. Friday holds Canadian citizenship, which he acquired voluntarily, and possesses a Canadian passport. They also highlight that he once said in Parliament he keeps his “Canadian passport proudly in his front pocket and his Vincentian passport in his back pocket.” The voters argue that because of this foreign citizenship, he may owe allegiance to another country, potentially making him ineligible to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The voters’ letter further notes that since the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1, 2024, Dr. Friday has entered Canada using his Canadian passport. They also emphasise that, although Dr. Friday has been nominated and elected as a Representative in the Northern Grenadines in the general elections of 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, “repeated violations of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act in this regard do not in any way make what is wrong, right.” The voters argue that his past electoral victories should not exempt him from the constitutional requirements for candidacy.

For Member of Parliament Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, the voters’ letter similarly notes that he is a Canadian citizen by his own action and holds a Canadian passport. They argue that, because of this foreign citizenship, he may have obligations or loyalty to Canada, which could make him ineligible to serve as a representative for East Kingstown.

We are tracking this story and will bring more details as they come to hand.

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