Foreign Affairs Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble has declined to state whether he would renounce his Canadian citizenship if the High Court rules against him, stating he that he will not deal with hypothetical scenarios when his confidence is absolute.
Both Bramble and Prime Minister Godwin Friday were cross-examined on Tuesday in the high-stakes election petition trial before Justice Gertel Thom.
The case then continued on Wednesday, as the court’s attention shifted to several New Democratic Party (NDP) supporters from Bequia, who were cross-examined based on their respective affidavits.
Speaking with iWitness News outside the High Court in Kingstown following those proceedings, Bramble expressed complete confidence that the defence would prevail, maintaining that being a Canadian citizen does not prevent him from contesting elections and serving in parliament.
“My understanding of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution convinces me of that; and the fact of the matter is, if that was really the case, this would have happened a long time ago,” he said, referring to the election petition.
It is against this backdrop of constitutional confidence that Bramble maintained he will not deal with hypotheticals at this juncture regarding whether he would renounce his Canadian nationality if the High Court rules against him.
“But I am confident. I am confident that we will win the case, so that question wouldn’t even need to be considered.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Friday told iWitness News that he still feels very good about the case, adding that this is all part of the process.
“… And we’re engaging in this process, and my position with respect to the outcome has not changed. I am fully confident in our team. [We] presented our case extremely well; the evidence so far supports our position, and we expect that the court will make its decision in good faith, and we expect to prevail. This is what we always said, and that’s what the people of this country want to see happen.”
He added that Vincentians knew all about the circumstances surrounding dual citizenship with both him and Bramble, and they were still overwhelmingly elected to become parliamentary representatives for the Northern Grenadines and East Kingstown, respectively.
“Because I know that this is not a matter that affects our eligibility, and it certainly doesn’t affect our performance, our commitment, and the hard work that you’re doing on behalf of the people.”
However, Friday is apologetic that he has to spend so much time in court when he should be doing the work of the people.
Despite his regret over the lost time, he firmly rejected the suggestion that the election petition itself is an infringement on democracy, maintaining that the court battle is simply a necessary part of the constitutional framework.
“That’s why I say I am here … I am here to participate in it because they filed it. Everybody has their day in court,” Friday stated.
Friday reiterated his confidence in the court, as well as his legal team, who he said is taking this matter very seriously.
“You ask if this…is an infringement on democracy … but what is the most democratic thing that happens in our system of government is that the people vote, and last November, the people voted overwhelmingly for the New Democratic Party, for me as prime minister, for Bramble as representative for East Kingstown…”
Bramble concurred with Friday that the petitioners’ case must run its course, and they are fully complying.
“But we are so very confident that we will prevail, but the process must take its course.”
While it may be argued that it would be easier for the affected members of parliament to simply renounce their foreign citizenship, defence attorney Shirlan “Zita” Barnwell emphasised that addressing the matter in court is critical to establishing a clear, definitive interpretation of the Constitution.
“… People will be aware that our constitution actually says a commonwealth citizen, there’s nowhere in the law that makes any reference to being a Vincentian citizen.”
Barnwell further contended that the High Court must settle whether a person holding dual Vincentian and Canadian citizenship is disqualified from sitting in Parliament, or if their status as a Commonwealth citizen protects their eligibility.
The defence attorney noted that the legal boundaries regarding whether a fellow Commonwealth nation constitutes a “foreign power” remain highly ambiguous to many Vincentians.
“… As far as we are concerned, as far as what the law appears to be saying, there is absolutely nothing wrong in being a Vincentian and Canadian at the same time when you are running…[for political office],” Barnwell added.
The legal proceedings stem from the November 2025 general elections, where defeated Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate Carlos Williams challenged Friday’s election, claiming that he was not qualified to be a candidate because of his Vincentian and Canadian citizenship.
The ULP’s Luke Browne also mounted a similar challenge in East Kingstown, where he was defeated, for a second time, by Bramble, who is also a member of the NDP, which Friday leads.
The legal dispute centers on a constitutional conflict regarding whether holding Canadian citizenship constitutes an allegiance to a foreign power under Section 26(1)(a) or is protected under provisions for Commonwealth citizens.
The trial continues.