Former Telecommunications Minister Camilo Gonsalves has issued a stern warning that regulatory attempts to shut down opposition-aligned Star Radio threaten to inflict a severe international “black eye” on St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ reputation for press freedom and democratic governance.
Speaking during a national radio broadcast, Gonsalves charged that forcing the primary broadcast organ of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) off the air over minor administrative technicalities mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes and undermines constitutional guarantees of free speech.
Gonsalves argued that any move by the state-run National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) to terminate or refuse the broadcast license of a major opposition voice will inevitably attract global condemnation.
“This gives the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines a black eye in the international media and globally,” Gonsalves stated. “If we start to hear that the government-run communication authority is terminating the license of a radio station that opposes the government, that becomes a direct threat to freedom of expression in the country”.
He cautioned that weaponizing administrative technicalities—such as missing corporate formatting details or signatures from nearly two decades ago—to silence critical commentary resembles the behavior of “tinpot dictatorships” rather than a mature democracy.
Highlighting the broader risks of prolonged conflict, Gonsalves warned that if the NTRC does not reverse course, Star Radio will pursue full legal remedies. He predicted that such litigation would generate damaging international news coverage depicting the government as actively suppressing political dissent.
Gonsalves emphasized that the dispute would ultimately end in Star Radio’s legal vindication, making the current regulatory push counterproductive and self-defeating:
International Scrutiny: Prolonged legal warfare will attract international media coverage, framing the dispute as a government attempt to lock off political dissent and “muzzle the press”.
Institutional Undermining: Political interference risks hollowing out the NTRC’s long-standing reputation as an impartial, world-class regional regulator.
Inevitable Legal Vindication: Gonsalves expressed full confidence that court proceedings would resolve the matter in Star Radio’s favor, allowing the station to remain on the air.
Rather than escalating into an international embarrassment, Gonsalves urged the NTRC board and technical leadership to exercise professional maturity, lower the political temperature, and handle broadcast licensing strictly in accordance with statutory procedures.
He called on regulators to cease what he described as a petty and ill-advised campaign against the station, reminding officials that preserving open political speech and institutional integrity is far more vital than enforcing minor paperwork technicalities.
