Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sen. Camillo Gonsalves has declined to comment on allegations that Deputy Consul-General at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate in New York, Edson Augustus, was recalled on Friday because of his handling of the issuing of some Vincentian passports.
The Minister, however, said that he has seen persons claiming that they have “information” and urged them to report their information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he said, will conduct a thorough investigation into all claims.
The Ministry announced on Monday that Augustus was recalled after the Ministry received “sufficient confirmation” of report that the former diplomat was “involved in activities outside the scope of his employment and inimical to the interest of the Consulate General and the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.
Asked on Tuesday about allegations, that Augustus acted inappropriately in his handling of the nation’s passport, Gonsalves told I-Witness News, “I am not in a position to comment at this time.
“The statement that we released captured what we are prepared to comment on at this time,” he said in reference to the brief, four-paragraph statement that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Monday, announcing the recall of Augustus.
“And if you notice, it indicate that we are continuing to follow up and investigate some of the claims and it would be premature at this time to make any definitive comment on any additional matters,” said Gonsalves, a former UN ambassador.
“I will note, however, that there has been some rather wild speculations from various quarters about what has taken place and I will urge that people exercise some patience while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts a thorough investigation into all claims.
“And I will also ask that if anybody has any information — because I see a lot of people claiming that they have information — that it would be appropriate in my view, that they share that information with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Gonsalves, however, said he was not aware of any criminal investigation into Augustus’ action.
He further said that up to Monday, the former diplomat was yet to return to St. Vincent.
“But I would anticipate him returning shortly,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs told I-Witness News.
Augustus was appointed a diplomat in May 2011, three months after resigned as a Seventh Day Adventists pastor.
This Baby Doc is indicative of the cliché ;the apple don’t fall far from the tree”. What is he trying to imply? If the release stated the reason why the diplomat was recalled then maybe there would not have been all these speculations. This ULP government seems to think very lowly of the Vincentian common sense. What a pity. Anyway Fourth Term still dey say.
The Ministry announced on Monday that Augustus was recalled after the Ministry received sufficient confirmation of report that the former diplomat was involved in activities outside the scope of his employment and inimical to the interest of the Consulate General and the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Oxford English Dictionary – inimical, adj. 1. Having the disposition or temper of an enemy; unfriendly, hostile. 2. Adverse or injurious in tendency or influence; harmful or hurtful.
An inimical charge in itself.
“… inimical to the interest of the Consulate General and the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. An enemy, a hostile party, a harmful person, a hurtful entity to the interest of the Consulate General and the Government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines. And the Ministry has “sufficient confirmation” that the former diplomat, that is, Edson Augustus, was involved in these hostile activates.
How does Edson Augustus compare with Ordan Graham?
My question is….. Why would the SVG Ministry of Foreign Affairs take such a drastic measure to recall any diplomat on only “allegations”?
With such measure their have to be some form as substantial evidence which should be released to the people in an effort to stop all the rumors.
I think that is the way when something of this magnitude happen, you first have to protect the county emerge and recall who ever in that office.
Elma, the government is right. If they had not done that, maybe folks like you would have been crucifying the government for not recalling him. By doing that, it shows that the government is a responsible government.
Fitz,
The reality is that the government has recalled a diplomat based only on allegations. Can you disclose the real reason for the recall? I never questioned the capability of the Government; I am recommending disclosure in supporting the recall action.
It’s a real shame and disgrace. I have two friends who are now getting a hard time crossing the border between Canada and the US and they were wondering why that was happening when it never happened before. But when I saw this headlines It made sense to me, the Vincentian passport has lost value ever since these guys came to office. One of my friend is now doing his canadian citizenship, just so he can stop using the Vincy passport, and others are doing it as well. Shame and Disgrace
Get rid of these guys , even the people in the diaspora are being affected by these guys. It’s no wonder the Canadians gave us Visa to go there. Thousands of passports were burned up and now we have this mess. Ring the bell, and get rid of these guys. Too many hand picked crooks in SVG.
This fool should be put in handcuffs as soon as he set foot in SVG and charge with 120,000 counts of crime against Vincies. Then we will grant him immunity from prosecution If he is willing to testify against the PM and Son to let us know the extent of their involvement in this matter.
Senator Gonsalves since you are the one handling this matter. We would like to know what happened in New York, and we would like to know what kind of discretion is exercised before granting anyone a passport in New York. There are serious allegations going around, but you seem to be the only one who will answer these questions because the Prime Minister already said he is not discussing such things after it was revealed that Mr Dave Ames of Harlequin is now a citizen that is eligible to carry our passport.
Below is a recording of the PM refusing to answer questions about Citizenship due diligence process and by extent\sion, who get to carry our Vincentian Passport.
https://soundcloud.com/blane-shoy/prime-minister-refuse-to
BLANE, thank you so much for the sterling service within another sterling service, by your sharing of your cloud recordings.
I don’t know if what I am doing is sterling or not, I just wanted other Vincentians to hear what is being said in Vincy, and who is saying it so they can form their own opinion. And there are a few in Vincy that like to hear themselves talk so, I am just giving them another avenue to do so. But thanks for the support.