Deportation of Lucian not main event or capital offence says PM Gonsalves

Although St Lucian, Chester King was sent back to his country without the knowledge of the court and the Immigration Department, “it is not a capital offence” or is it the “main event” said Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves was commenting on radio the removal by the state of King, which became the subject of discussion due to the fact that despite having several charges before the court in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), he was escorted from His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) without the knowledge of the court. It has been revealed that King was escorted from prison by St Lucian police investigators as he was wanted at home for questioning in relation to several homicides.

In court, when the matter was being looked into, the Senior Magistrate commented that the court was being made a “pappy show” because King was deported by the State before making his court appearance on immigration charges. She had called for an explanation, and on February 24, 2025, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frankie Joseph appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court where he gave an account.

Commenting on the issue, on NBC’’s Morning Cup programme on March 5, 2025, the Prime Minister said the main thing is that SVG got rid of a dangerous criminal.

“I saw a story where somebody from a territory was taken up on an immigration offense, a Caribbean territory, kept at Belle Isle, and a production order was made to get him from Belle Isle. But the person should have been taken back to court on the immigration offense, as I understand it. But instead, they were not taken to court, they were taken by officials, law enforcement officials, from the country from which that person came,” Gonsalves stated on radio.

“The police acted quickly because that person was needed, was to be questioned in relation to two or three murders, and I understand he has been charged for one, at least one,” Dr Gonsalves told listeners of the NBC programme.

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