St. Vincent and the Grenadines follows “automatically” United Nations Security Council sanctions but is under no obligation to honour those that countries impose unilaterally.
“By virtue of our membership of the United Nations and in relation to security. From time to time, I will get come on my desk individuals or companies who are sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told the media on Friday.
He said that by virtue of SVG’s membership of the United Nations, from time to time, Security Council sanctions of individuals or companies come to his desk.
“… when I get it, I send it immediately to the Financial Intelligence Unit, the commissioner of police, Financial Services Authority, comptroller of inland revenue, chief immigration officer, and the director general of finance and planning. That’s United Nations Security, sanctions.
“… we are under no obligation to follow any unilateral sanctions by any country,” he said, noting that SVG has, however, mutual legal assistance treaty arrangements with the United States, Canada, Britain, and other European countries.
“If you have a particular individual or company that you require action to be taken under the mutual assistance treaty, you inform us through the usual channels and there is a process and that triggers an internal legal process in our country.”
He said that if an arrest warrant arrives, either within the terms of the mutual legal assistance treaty or Interpol, “we act because it triggers a particular internal legal process.
“So, we will follow international law and we follow domestic law.”
He said that because SVG has security relations with the United States, France, Canada and other countries, and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, through the Regional Security System, Kingstown would be provided with and would provide information.
“… but the idea that because Country A says John Browne is sanctioned means that in my law, that in my country, that I could pick up John Browne, he’s entitled to certain protections under domestic law. “Of course, that’s when I say the system is triggered.”
So I don’t know who this gentleman is or if you’re quoting him correctly or consider all the various
The prime minister was responding to a question regarding a warning from George Brathwaite, senior lecturer in political science and international relations, at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, that Kingstown would do well to abide by the sanctions imposed against Russian individuals and companies.
“George Braithwaite doesn’t guide my government; the law of St. Vincent and the Grenadines does,” Gonsalves said.
Told that Braithwaite was speaking about fear of backlash from countries that have already passed sanctions against Russia.
Gonsalves said:
“That is his assessment about fear. Well, I don’t take a fella from Cave Hill assessment about fear. My first issue is — the first question I ask always — Guys in Cabinet will tell you — when an issue arises, I say, ‘AG, what’s the legal position on this?’ … That’s how I function. I stay in my crease.”
Asked if he thought that the unilateral sanctions were “justified, moral, ethical, or however you want to describe them”, Gonsalves said:
“The question is partly a trick question because it will take me then to say what is the distinction between these and those against Cuba and those against Venezuela.
“I am sure that some of the sanctions against particular individuals may well be justified and Britain and US and so on, all of them may consider them justified.
“All I’m saying is: if John Browne is sanctioned, don’t just tell me that he sanctions. Send something through the legal process because my legal process has to be triggered.”
Gonsalves said that as prime minister, he is sworn to upkeep the laws of SVG.
“If I can act in an executive manner against somebody who you say is a bad man, but you don’t give me the legal basis to trigger my own legislation to deal with John Browne, I will be acting arbitrarily.”
He noted that he was not saying that his government would not “deal with” someone who is sanctioned.
“But you sanction somebody, you would have to make a specific request within the existing legal processes… You might have issued a warrant for the arrest, you might want additional information, … the mutual legal assistance treaty has different dimensions.”
He said “the other day” a yacht belonging to “a wealthy person who is Russian by birth” entered SVG with the owner travelling on a Cypriot passport.
“Now, immediately in some quarters there was a lot of Russophobia but the first thing which you’re informed is that this person is on no sanctions,” Gonsalves said, apparently referring to billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his super yacht “Anna”.
Gonsalves said there were 38 crew members on the yacht, 26 of whom were British.
He said Britain has passed a law prohibiting its citizens from working aboard a sanctioned yacht.
“They didn’t just pronounce it, they put legislation in place,” Gonsalves said.
“I have to do things within a particular legal framework. Otherwise, we could be subjected to certain actions in the court against us for detaining somebody without [legal basis].”
So in plain language svg is a Russian safe-haven?
Well, if you buy 40 tons of fluel, you are a good visitor. Our beautiful country on a plate, nah!
I wonder if any of these agreements could assist the government in extraditing Mr Ames back to SVG to answer any charges.
No Country or Organization in world are obligated or unilaterally bound to help SVG when are in crisis as we accustomedto beg them . Words carried weight and can have negative effect on Vincies living and traveling in foreign lands
Social Services like Money Gram and Western Union can be cut off and our economy plunge further in the abyss.
Be careful of our Education Revolution Mentality Syndromes and cut back on our false pride ( which comes with fall).
No Red Carpet on our voyage East , it tells that we are non significant in world affairs .
Let enjoy our heap of stone with good soil. Love SVG.
My two cents
He probably have shares in moneygram. Calliaqua.
How many Russian owned ships and boats are registered in SVG and fly the SVG flag?
He will never attack his friends even if they are scumbags and war criminals
That’s a lot of words to say, I will kowtow to the Russians currently invading and killing the people of an independent nation. Come on! You have enough information through your own eyes and ears to see what’s happening in ukraine right now, and the ability to assess on your own.
Just a thought: maybe before you demonize Putin, Russia, and all the Russian Peoples, you should first consider that since 2014 Ukraine has been attacking and bombing the people of Donbass, approx 2000 dead. When it was reported they bombed a bus full of school children, I stopped having any sympathy for them. I should have woke-up after Victoria Newland admitted the USA invested over 5 Billion dollars to destabilize Ukraine, to include funding Nazis to take the country from Russia’s influence. What about the Bio labs, that are now a proven fact, after the USA denied it, (at least Victoria Newland admitted it).
Jamal – Not sure if you’re worth responding to honestly – yes a country ran by a Jewish president and Jewish prime Minister needs to be denazify. Oh yes and as the Russian General said – birds are transporting viruses from these biolabs to Russian people.. hahaha..
Seriously iwn? Any reason you won’t post my response to Jamal? Lol
You may want to consult this article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/inside-azov-neo-nazi-brigade-killing-russian-generals-playing/
Both the Telegraph and the BBC have acknowledged that Azov is a Nationalist, Neo-Nazi organisation. They are also funded by a Jew.
Thank you Mindset! The person, just a thought, has allowed to be indoctrinated along with the masses that fall for everything the MSM throws at them, even if it changes from one day to the next. Just like the “science” of Fauchi.
It is disturbing to see how few people are able to think for themselves. They ignore any facts that do not fit the narrative the media has constructed around them.