Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has leveled serious accusations against the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration, claiming they have abandoned fiscal prudence in favor of lavish travel and “double bubble” salaries for political appointees.
In a recent detailed critique, Gonsalves contrasted what he described as the “Grinch-like” austerity imposed on the poor with the “upper-class” lifestyle now enjoyed by government ministers.
A primary point of contention for Gonsalves is a reported shift in government travel policy. He alleged that NDP ministers have moved away from traveling in economy class, opting instead for more expensive accommodations.
“The fellas are in the business class, upper class things,” Gonsalves stated, noting that this practice extends beyond the Prime Minister to include “ordinary ministers”.
He emphasized that this is a departure from the strict rule maintained during his Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration, where business class travel was reserved exclusively for the Prime Minister and the Governor General. Under the previous administration, exceptions were only made for officials with documented physical ailments, such as back or knee problems, or if the travel was fully funded by an external source that specifically chose to provide business class.
Gonsalves further attacked the administration for what he termed the “real double bubble”—a reference to massive salary increases for state-connected individuals. He cited specific examples of pay hikes that he claimed have occurred since the NDP took office:
- In one particular state office, a salary previously set at $13,000 per month has reportedly jumped to nearly $20,000.
- Another position saw a salary move from $15,000 to $30,000 per month, effectively doubling the pay.
Gonsalves pointed out the “dishonesty” of these figures, recalling that during the 2025 election campaign, the NDP had campaigned against salaries in the “high teens,” arguing that no one should be making $17,000 a month.
The Opposition Leader argued that these new salaries are not justifiable when compared to the responsibilities of heads of major national utilities. He noted that the $30,000 monthly salary exceeds the earnings of the CEOs of VINLEC (which manages 300millioninassets),the National Insurance Services (520 million asset base), and the CWSA. He suggested that the new appointees have “less responsibilities” than these established professional heads but are being paid significantly more.
Gonsalves also highlighted several other “perks” and spending decisions he found questionable:
- Advertising Contracts: He claimed a “well-connected” entity in the state administration received $20,000 for “some little thing” related to advertising for the tourism authority.
- Aviation Branding: He alleged that $50,000 US was approved simply to place a St. Vincent and the Grenadines logo on an InterCaribbean plane.
- Board Member Discounts: He spoke of a directive allegedly issued by a minister that would allow board members to receive up to a $1,500 discount when holding personal activities at facilities overseen by their own boards.
Gonsalves framed these perks as part of a broader pattern of the government “letting down” the populace while prioritizing its own comfort. He accused the administration of using political criteria to cut poor citizens from public assistance lists, while simultaneously finding the funds to upgrade their own travel and pay.
“They find money to do things which they want to do,” Gonsalves concluded, adding that while he was once called “Santa Claus” for his social programs, the public now feels that “The Grinch is in”.
