SVG Green Party puts the ULP government on notice relating to the pardon granted to a man convicted of a drugs offence. We will ask the international community to investigate the matter.

The SVG Green Party puts the ULP government on notice relating to the pardon granted to a man convicted of a drugs offence. We strongly believe that justice is best served when there is firmness and fairness to all concerned. We are asking the international community, in particular the United States F.B.I. and the UK Scotland Yard, to look into this matter as under the Westminster system of government, the Leader of the Opposition should have been formally informed of the facts of this serious development and it should not have been kept secret from the public.

SVG Green Party requests of the international community and organisations, in particular, those that grant aid to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to have aid tied specifically to good and transparent governance. No transparent governance, no aid.

On 11th December 2006, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, presented figures in his 2007 Budget Address in Parliament which were incorrect, namely, understating public debt and the public debt to GDP ratio. These are serious components in the competent economic management of any country.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not a banana republic and the SVG Green Party demands transparency and good governance, as these are the pillars of true democracy and sustainable development. Without good governance and transparency societies break up.

SVG Green Party is appalled by the ULP Government pardoning an individual convicted of such a serious offence and then using an excuse of national security to justify this unacceptable action. We request the international community to investigate this crucial matter soon.

A convicted prisoner being released in the interest of national security is highly questionable. The Prime Minister seems to be saying that when convicted criminals are in prison society is under threat, but when convicted criminals are out of prison society is safer! SVG Green Party asks if this reasoning is going to be applied across the board in Her Majesty’s prison?

Signed………………………….
Ivan O’Neal BSc(Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader and Co-founder of SVG Green Party

For action:             British Ambassador to Barbados     
                                USA Ambassador to Barbados
                                EU Ambassador to Barbados           
World Bank
Info cc:                   His Excellency the Governor General
                                Hon. Prime Minister
Hon. Leader of the NDP
IMF
                                Secretary General of CARICOM
                                Secretary General of OAS
                                President of SVG Bar Association
                                President of SVG Christian Council 
                                President of National Youth Council
President of SVG Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Media