Over the last few days, the two main political parties in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) hosted major meetings. The Unity Labour Party (ULP), celebrated its 22nd anniversary in office and the New Democratic Party (NDP), held a rally on Thursday, March 23, during which it condemned the government’s decision to appeal the High Court ruling on the vaccine mandate case.

During his speech at the ULP anniversary celebration on Sunday, March 26, Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told party supporters the defense team for the government believes the ruling, handed down by Justice Esco Henry was “a wrong judgment” and therefore an appeal, in lieu of a stay of execution of court order, was filed.

On Monday, March 13, the High Court ruled that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate enacted in law was unconstitutional, and public servants should be returned to their positions with full pay and benefits. The Government filed a notice of appeal on March 16.

Founding members of the ULP: Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Sir Louis Straker and Julian Francis. 

Gonsalves nevertheless, said the government still wants to act within the best interest of teachers. He urged unvaccinated teachers to rejoin the public service while the appeal is being reviewed by the Court.

“I want to say something to those teachers and public servants that did not take the vaccine- and it is a small group. In the case of the teachers, out of 2,200 – 2,300 you have about 130 of them who didn’t take the vaccine. Relatively small numbers… but I want them to know that I love them, and I value them, and as we appeal the judgment of one judge and we ask for a stay of execution of that judgement, while the appeal progresses, I want all of them to indicate that they are interested in coming back.”

Gonsalves had made a similar call prior to the start of the 2022/2023 school year last September which some teachers accepted.

“We will make the arrangements and you will not lose any of your benefits. We said that since July last year… you can come back while the appeal still goes on. Over 50 have come back. Some don’t want to come back for reasons of theology, for reasons of politics…”

The ULP leader and Prime Minister also said the appeal of the judgement by the government is not being done out of “bad mindedness”.

“T​​his government and this prime minister has no malice or no bad mindedness, just love and caring. If the government gets the stay and they win the appeal, I will still make sure that they get their benefits but I have to make sure that they put the matter clearly to what represents the law in SVG,” Gonsalves told party supporters and well wishers at the rally held on the tarmac of the decommissioned E.T Joshua Airport.

Meanwhile, at the virtual NDP rally held three days prior, on Thursday March 23, lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste, commenting on the appeal and the application for a stay of execution, claimed that documents filed by the State in the Court of Appeal set out a case for “severe disruption” to the public service and tremendous financial burden if the stay is not granted.

Large crowd turned out at the old airport runway to celebrate with the Unity Labour Party.

She read from the documents, telling party supporters details of what was included in the application for the stay which said that “government will suffer and be exposed to injustice and irreparable harm if a stay is not granted”.

Bacchus-Baptiste went on to read from the documents saying “unbudgeted salaries for the claimants for the month of March amount to $808,228, additionally unbudgeted back pay entitled to the claimants in light of this order is approximately 8 million three hundred dollars. He is telling the court that he cannot find the money to pay teachers for the month of March; he is saying that he cannot find 11 million, three hundred dollars to pay back pay.”

She contended that based on the information filed with the court, the call made by Gonsalves for unvaccinated teachers to reapply for their jobs contradicts what the State is telling the Court of Appeal.

In detailing the affidavit submitted by the Attorney General, she read, “…to cover the cost associated with the various posts where two persons would now occupy a single post following the order, supplemental funds will be required which will cause financial strain on the state…”.

“The same prime minister that is saying that you could come and get your jobs right away…this Attorney General is saying that you will have to create posts and it will take several months.”

The lawyer urged the government to comply with the court ruling and pay the 271 litigants what the court has ordered they be paid.