KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – National Security Minister, St. Clair Leacock, says former prime minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is not entitled to the detail of six police officers and that he will only be given what he is entitled to from the state.
Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (left) and National Security Minister St. Clair Leacock (File Photo)“I hope by the weekend that had been trimmed because that conversation took place. He had a detail with as many as six policemen with the senior person in that detail being an inspector. He’s not entitled to that,” Leacock said.
Gonsalves, who served as prime minister from March 2001 to November this year, said recently that he was expecting “usual courtesies and privileges attendant upon the former holders of this high office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines consonant with the practices of civilised nations”.
The former prime minister did not elaborate but said, “any derogation therefrom “will be brought to the attention of the national, regional and international communities for corrective action.”
Leacock, who is also deputy prime minister, told a radio programme that he understood that for a short time, a police detail of six officers had been assigned to the former prime minister.
“Then the protocol that has to be confirmed is that if an opposition leader is functioning and you’re still active in politics, you’re still politically active, you are not entitled to that security blanket. So, he will have to make up his mind as to what degree of courtesy you will extend to him,” Leacock said.
“Clearly, if he’s retired to active politics, the courtesy of a security or a driver to facilitate his going about his business is in order but you can’t have it both ways. Nor must he have those securities in a way to pretend that it’s business as usual, nothing has changed.”
Leacock said that the six officers had been reduced to two.
“And if that is not in place, then the commissioner of police will have to give an accountability as to why this large entourage.”
The National Security Minister said that he would prefer that any security detail assigned to the former prime minister not wear their uniform so as not to “give a sense that the police forces at work in his charge”.
He said the officers could be assigned to Gonsalves to provide any assistance that is necessary, either as driver or security, “but he is not going to have a party of six”.
After leaving politics, the late Sir James Mitchell, who was prime minister from 1984 to October 2000, was assigned a police driver to transport him to official functions only, and the officer drove the former prime minister’s personal vehicle.
Leacock said that Arnhim Eustace – who was prime minister from October 2000 to March 2001 and then opposition leader until November 2016 — got police assistance after he left politics in 2020 and then his health failed.
“And a police officer was provided for him as a driver, and perhaps to the extent that they are police and you’re driver, they are intertwined. But he didn’t have two. And definitely, Dr. Friday had none.”
Godwin Friday, who is now prime minister, served as opposition leader from November 2016 to November 2025. Unlike Eustace and Gonsalves, he had not served as prime minister before becoming opposition leader.
Leacock said that the issue of security for Gonsalves is under investigation, and the government was awaiting a cabinet record that says that there should be a specific entitlement.
“We are not so convinced, and therefore, to the extent that that cannot be provided, we will do the right thing,” Leacock said.
