Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines April 15, 2026- The Opposition Leader has escalated his warnings over what he describes as a creeping dictatorship, urging citizens across the nation to mobilize in resistance to constitutional amendments proposed by the New Democratic Party (NDP). Speaking on radio, he declared that the government’s move to retroactively change the constitution and the Representation of the People Act amounts to an assault on democracy and judicial independence and called for a broad-based national protest to stop what he termed a “wicked, undemocratic” maneuver.
The amendments, introduced by NDP leader Dr. Godwin Friday, seek to redefine “foreign power or state” so that Commonwealth countries, including Canada, are excluded. This change would retroactively validate the nominations and elections of Dr. Friday and Fitzgerald Bramble, both of whom face petitions challenging their eligibility due to Canadian citizenship. The Opposition Leader argued that such retroactive legislation interferes with a live court case, undermines the rule of law, and sets a dangerous precedent for governance in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In his address, he issued a clarion call for action, insisting that “patriots must be mobilized” to defend the constitution and the separation of powers. He appealed to institutions such as the Christian Council, the Bar Association, trade unions, the business community, and civil society to form a united front against the amendments. He urged citizens to take to the streets, declaring, “we’ll have to hit the streets” to resist what he described as a usurpation of judicial authority.
The Opposition Leader emphasized that mobilization must extend across all sectors of society from villages and towns to schools, hospitals, police stations, factories, and even among young men on the block. He framed the struggle as a national political battle of massive proportions, warning that unless the amendments are withdrawn, the country risks descending into political chaos and ruination.
Calling on the Governor General to intervene and refuse assent to the bills if passed, he stressed that the right course of action is to allow the court to decide the pending petitions. “You don’t play the game and then change the rules after,” he said, underscoring that the amendments are not about governance but about self-preservation for Dr. Friday, Bramble, and the NDP.
The Opposition Leader’s appeal marks a significant escalation in the political confrontation, transforming the legal dispute into a nationwide call for protest and mobilization against what he insists is a direct threat to democracy.