Michelle Andrews, the police officer who in 2008 accused Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of raping her, died on Friday, one of her close relatives has confirmed to iWitness News.
Andrews, 53, died “peacefully” at her home in New Prospect, the relative said, asking for anonymity to speak freely.
She had spent almost 21 years as a police officer, all of which had been at the immigration department before 2007 when passport control separated from the constabulary.
The relative said that Andrews retired from the police force in February 2024 almost a year after suffering a brain aneurysm on board a boat to St. Vincent, from Union Island, where she was stationed.
“That changed everything. After that stroke, she wasn’t the same person. She had to learn to do everything over,” the relative said.
“She made progress because in December she even went to Kingstown. The last time she went to town was on Tuesday,” the relative said, adding that Andrews’ death on Friday morning came as a shock.
The relatives said Andrews retired as a police officer in February 2024, after exhausting all her leave. However, she did not receive her pension and gratuity until November.
In 2008, Andrews, then a police officer attached to the Special Services Unit of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, was a part of the detail providing security to Gonsalves at his official residence at Old Montrose.
She alleged that while she was performing her duties, Gonsalves assaulted and raped her and she made a report to her superior, then-Superintendent of Police Michael Charles on the same day.
Court documents further said Andrews claimed that on the following day, Jan. 4, 2008, she made a report to then-Commissioner of Police Keith Miller.
No criminal charges having been brought against Gonsalves, on Jan. 26, 2008, Andrews’ lawyers wrote to the commissioner of police requesting that he investigate her report.
The police chief responded to Andrews’ lawyer indicating that the matter was investigated and the investigations did not reveal any evidence of wrongdoing by Gonsalves.
The commissioner invited Andrews’ lawyers to produce any evidence they had supporting their client’s allegations against the prime minister.
However, on Jan. 31, 2008, Andrews filed two private criminal complaints, one each of indecent assault and rape.
That same day, Gonsalves hosted a press conference flanked by his wife Eloise Gonsalves and other members of his legal team.
He identified Andrews by name and denied her allegations.
On Feb. 1, 2008, then Director of Public Prosecutions, Colin Williams wrote Andrews’ lawyer, Kay Bacchus-Browne (now Bacchus-Baptiste) informing her that Andrews had not provided a statement to the police even though the police had been informed that a statement would be provided.
The DPP requested Andrews’ lawyer to provide by midday on Feb. 4, 2008, to the commissioner of police or to him (the DPP) directly, a copy of the statement and any other evidence Andrews had in support of the accusations
On Feb. 4, 2008, Andrews’ lawyer responded to the DPP indicating that Andrews had filed private criminal complaints and they could not accede to his request.
On the said Feb. 4, the DPP wrote to then Chief Magistrate, Sonya Young informing her that he was taking over the two private criminal complaints filed by Andrews.

That same day, the DPP discontinued the two complaints.
On Feb.14, 2008, the chief magistrate wrote to Andrews’ indicating that the DPP had entered a nolle prosequi and as a consequence there was no longer a viable matter before the court and that the date of the summons had been vacated.
Andrews’ lawyer asked the High Court to review the DPP’s decision. The High Court upheld the DPP’s decision.
On Friday, Andrews’ relative told iWitness News that the ordeal had had a negative impact on her.
“She was vilified; they (the police force) treated her so badly. Earlier in the day when she fell ill, a police officer had cursed her and told her she was the enemy of the state.
“I think that triggered what happened to her on the boat coming up. She was coming up to tell me what happened. We never got to finish the conversation.”
The relative told iWitness News that the ill-treatment of Andrews continued at any police post to which she was assigned.
“… only a few police officers used to talk to her. Michelle was like an outcast in the police. They treated her badly. They did not support her,” she said.
An exception was Brenton Smith, who was involved in the Police Welfare Association at the time of Andrews’ allegation, the relative said.
“He supported her. He came to the house to look for her. People used to meet her in the street and attack her because of what she said. Even some relatives who were supposed to be supporting her did not after that thing. It was because of our very close relatives who stuck with her that she was able to cope — because she had someone to look out for her.
“Every station she went, someone was making some accusations against her. And they are the ones who used to be troubling her.”
Andrews remained enlisted in the police force for 16 years after alleging that the prime minister had raped her.
“She stayed because she felt as if she had left people would have said that she was lying. And they still were saying that she lied,” the relative told iWitness News.
She said that Andrews was not ill when she died.
“She was looking so good — the best. She was looking like her old self,” the relative told iWitness News, adding that they chatted with Andrews on Thursday and she did not complain of discomfort, as she usually would if that were the case.
Andrews is survived by an adult son, her mother and her siblings.
I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the Andrews family and friends at this time. I pray the you find comfort in the words of the bible “weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. May the God lord grant you all peace to cope and strength to move on.
So tell me wat her death have to do with wat happened u all so disgusting who ever u r who write these things u r jus a hold down to ur country u don’t care wat u write or the effect it have u jus write becuz u can or u get paid to smfh
I seem to recall there were some changes made to the law which enabled the DPP to take control of the case and to nolle prosequi it.
Rest in eternal peace Ms. Andrews.
God, and He alone is your Vindicator.
The wicked have no peace, they must suffer, suffer long enough before their lights dim.
I BELIEVE YOUR STORY (THAT MAN WILL NOT REST -TALKING FROM EXPERIENCE). ALL THOSE WHO ACCUSED YOU OF LYING THEY MUST SUFFER TOO… PERIOD.
They killed her.
Them kill you like they plan and murder Glen Jackson the political Kenite way
A dirty government and a dirty judiciary.
A beautiful soul who loved her people and country well