Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves has strongly condemned the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) government, alleging severe political discrimination following the abrupt dismissal of 28 public workers.
Gonsalves claims that the government unconstitutionally fired 28 mobilizers and coordinators from the YES program, replacing them with known supporters of the NDP.
According to Gonsalves, these dismissals were executed in a “crash, cruel, illegal manner” without any formal assessment of the workers’ competencies. Instead of receiving formal termination letters detailing the reasons for their dismissal, many of the workers were reportedly fired via telephone calls or brief face-to-face conversations with mid-level public servants.
Gonsalves noted that only two coordinators for the entire country—located in Central and East Kingstown—were retained, allegedly at the specific request of NDP officials.
Furthermore, Gonsalves asserts that these dismissed employees have been stripped of basic labor rights and standard severance benefits. Despite some having worked for the government for up to 23 years, the workers have reportedly not received their April salaries, a month’s pay in lieu of notice, payment for untaken holidays, or the standard compassionate gratuity typically awarded to non-pensionable government employees.
“You can’t discriminate against somebody on political grounds in relation to their job,” Gonsalves stated, arguing that the firings are a direct violation of Section 13 of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution. He emphasized that the directive for these mass firings could not have originated from mid-level staff, but rather represents a calculated political decision made at the highest levels by the political directorate, specifically pointing to the Cabinet and the Minister of Youth.
In response to the dismissals, Gonsalves recently met with 10 of the affected workers and announced that legal action is being prepared. He confirmed that a legal team is drafting the appropriate letters and warned that he would personally serve as a lawyer in a constitutional challenge against the government if the matter is not resolved.
Gonsalves is demanding that the government immediately issue proper termination letters, pay all outstanding salaries and severance benefits, and compensate the workers with damages for political discrimination.