By Admin. Updated 8:34 p.m., Saturday, August 29, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Former Prime Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Dr Ralph Gonsalves has completed a series of high-level meetings across the Caribbean centred on food security, agriculture, fisheries, regional cooperation and reparatory justice before departing again for Trinidad and Tobago to deliver a keynote address at an Independence celebration.
Dr Gonsalves was accompanied during the regional engagements by Ireland’s former European Commissioner, Mr Phil Hogan, who is a candidate for the post of Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Irish businessman and philanthropist Mr Denis O’Brien, Chairman of the Repair Campaign.
The regional itinerary began on Monday, August 24, in Jamaica, where Dr Gonsalves met with that country’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green. Discussions focused on strengthening regional food security, fisheries and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Later that day, the Dr. Gonsalves travelled to The Bahamas for talks with Prime Minister Philip Davis. According to information provided, the discussions centred on regional integration, reparatory justice for the transatlantic enslavement of African people and genocide, along with other issues of mutual concern.
On Tuesday, August 25, Dr Gonsalves continued his engagements in St Kitts and Nevis. He first held talks via Zoom with Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew before meeting with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, where similar regional issues were discussed.
The Vincentian leader later travelled to Saint Lucia for discussions with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. Their talks again highlighted regional food security, the impact of ongoing international conflicts on global energy prices and markets, and broader areas of Caribbean cooperation.
Dr Gonsalves returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, August 26, in time to attend the sitting of Parliament held the following day.
He departed the country again today for Trinidad and Tobago, where he has been invited to deliver the feature address at the People’s National Movement (PNM) Independence celebration as part of that country’s Independence Day observances.
END
I wrote a manuscript that was the greatest study of the Atlantic Slave Trade ever undertaken, and it took me sixteen years to research and write. All from British and European public records. I had a section where I was seeking the ancestral link between Ralph Gonsalves and Antonio Gonsalves, a Portuguese sea captain who took the first ten African slaves from an Atlantic beach in Northwest Africa. Someone in my household told Gonsalves’s bodyguards, and perhaps Gonsalves or another member of his family. The result was several truckloads of police from various squads coming to my house with a search warrant that I believe was altered after the JP signed it. But it read firearms, ammunition, Drugs, electronics, and paperwork. The police refused to give me a copy of the warrant and refused to give me a copy of the seized items from my house that were substantial. They promised to return with a copy of the warrant and the list of seized items within two days but failed to do that. They found nothing illegal at my house; they never charged me with anything, never interviewed me and never asked me to attend an interview. I have been asking for the return of everything they took from my house every year for 9 years, and they still will not give it back. I met with the police chief, Williams, in April of this year, who said he was surprised by my allegations. He asked me to give him copies of any emails I had previously sent. But when I went home and looked, I discovered I had even sent him emails in the past with no results. So, I knew I was wasting my time talking with him. He could have quite easily gone look at the records for the raid on my house but did not do that or offer to do that. I met Minister Leacock in the street outside Singers, he shook my hand and I told him briefly that I was in SVG trying to get back my belongings from the police. He said he was in a hurry and for me to make an appointment to meet him at his office. The next day I went to his office and was told that they did not make appointments, and he did not take prearranged appointments. so I wondered why he had told me to do that in the first place. The lady at the office told he meets constituents at his office every Friday. So although I was not one of hist constituents went along to his office on Friday morning. There were several people waiting to see him and the filed into his office individually taking about fifteen minutes and leaving, Then three ladies who were just before me went into his office for thirty minutes. He came out of his office and saw me the last but one, sitting in the reception. I said “You told me to come and see you, so here I am.” He looked furious and sai “OK, you have exactly four minutes of my time”. I followed him into his office and, after three minutes, for me to tell a nine-year account of what happened to me. Looking thoroughly bored, he stood up and announced he was leaving. He asked his secretary to write down my story, and she fetched a book and pen and wrote what I told her. She told me she had heard the story before but did not know where. After promises of being in touch, nothing not another word during the last four months. None of it was a pleasant or satisfying experience. No interest, and no help from anyone in authority. I did write to Dr Friday in 2022 and laid out the story, but even he never replied to my plight. I am beginning to believe there is reverse racism involved. Now what I do not understand is why they cannot just instruct, or order the police to give me back my belongings? And all this is a result of Gonsalves’ bodyguards and the police searching for the manuscript that they thought may link Ralph Gonsalves’ ancestry to the Atlantic Slave Trade. Why is the NDP supporting this matter in favour of the police and Gonsalves? Why? The whole matter is illegal and unconstitutional. All the time this matter remains unresolved, it is a continuation of the crime against my person and my property. There is no relief under the statutes. It is a continuing crime, and the government is aiding and abetting the police to commit that crime.