Leader of the Opposition Ralph Gonsalves has accused Shelly-Ann Alexander-Ross, president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nurses’ Association of “explaining for the government” why the 5% tax-free supplement was “axed”.
Gonsalves said on Star Radio on Monday that he saw the article published on two online media sites — iWitness News and St. Vincent Times — but thought that the nurses who brought the matter to his attention may have misled him.
“And one of them had showed me their payslip at a funeral and it didn’t have the money, so I say, ‘Well, I don’t know if there was something special why that one wasn’t there’,” Gonsalves said.
He added that when he read the article, which referenced a statement by the SVG Nurses Association that rebutted the claim by former finance minister, Camillo Gonsalves, that the non-taxable payment made to staff nurses, nursing assistants and nursing aides in 2024 and 2025 had been discontinued, Alexander-Ross was also a senior member of the Public Service Union’s President.
“Shelly-Ann Alexander-Ross, as a trade unionist, became a partisan, political explainer for the NDP (New Democratic Party) government, providing an excuse why the 5% which the ULP (Unity Labour Party) government paid in 2024 and 2025, … was not carried over into 2026,” he said.
In a press release on March 11, the Nurses’ Association stated that the use of the word “axed” may create the impression that a permanent benefit was abruptly removed.
“However, based on the public statements made at the time of its introduction, the 5 per cent supplement was clearly communicated as a temporary, time-bound measure intended to provide short-term fiscal relief while discussions on the possible upgrading and reclassification of nursing posts were being considered,” the release stated.
The release further stated that the association acknowledged the announcement made by then Prime Minister Gonsalves during the 2023 Independence Address, where it was announced that beginning January 2024, nurses, nursing assistants and nursing aides would receive a monthly supplementary non-taxable income, amounting to 5% their salary.
It further acknowledged that this was initially expected to be a temporary measure, lasting an initial 6 months, with the understanding that it would be reviewed.
The association said that it was aware of the announcement during the Gonsalves’ 2024 Independence Address that the payment would be extended for an additional year, ending Dec. 31, 2025, in addition to the one-off tax-free Christmas Cost of Living Allowance of 3% for three months, to be paid in 2026.
“So, when I read it, she tried to explain that it came to an end in 2025. Well, I’m not in government in 2026, so it couldn’t continue in 2026,” the opposition leader said.
He added that he made it plain during the election campaign that the 5% supplementary non-taxable income support would continue and would be incorporated into salary increases.
The ULP was voted out of office during the 2025 election, after 25 years in office.
Gonsalves said that nurses’ salaries were increased significantly during the reclassification exercise but they did not do as well as other members in the health sector.
“And I told Edmund Jackson, the director general for finance and planning, at Cabinet that this has to be corrected, and that is how the 5% came up,” Gonsalves said.
Gonsalves said his government had articulated that the supplementary income would continue.
“Everybody knew, apparently except she; I know her, you know, but I don’t know what got into her head to go out on a limb … nobody in government tek us on on that you know, but she as a unionist is explaining for the government … But I don’t know what kind of trade unionist this is,” Gonsalves said.
The fact of the matter, he added, was that he made it plain that nurses would receive the 5% in 2024 and 2025, but he did not have to announce again that it would happen in 2026.
“I already made that announcement long ago as to how we’re going to treat that, but trade union excusing a government for taking away something which they members getting in 2024 and 2025,” he said.
Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves appears increasingly frustrated and disoriented in his role. Stripped of real influence, he now resorts to daily baseless allegations against the government. Well, gentlemen Camillo, Luke, Carlos, and Saboto, prepare yourselves for a long season of futile agitation and theatrical outrage. Just be mindful not to crack your dentures in the process.
Trumpism rearing its ugly village idiot head?