By Admin. Updated 6:15 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT 4).
Prominent lawyers known for their alignment with Trinidad and Tobago’s opposing political parties, the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC), are set to appear in landmark constitutional cases in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).
Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister under the PNM government, Mr. Stuart Richard Young, and former Government Senator and Attorney General under the UNC government, Mr. Anand Ramlogan S.C., are set to join proceedings challenging the nominations of two candidates for the November 27, 2025, general election in SVG.
A document published online by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court indicates that the High Court will hear applications from five lawyers seeking admission to the SVG Bar on Thursday, 5 March. Among them are Mr. Young, who is to be part of the legal team representing two opposition candidates, and Mr. Ramlogan, to be part of the legal team representing two government ministers, including the Prime Minister.
The other lawyers seeking to be admitted to the Bar as Barristers at Law and Solicitors in the State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are Kate Quincy Temple-Mabe of the UK, Vishal Siewsaran, and Ganesh Saroop of Trinidad and Tobago.
Key Cases
The two principal matters are election petitions brought by Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidates Mr. Carlos Williams (Northern Grenadines) and Mr. Luke Browne (East Kingstown).
In the Northern Grenadines case, Mr. Aguatus Carlos Williams chiefly represented by Al Eliot of AC Elliot Attorneys is challenging the nomination of Dr. Godwin Friday. He names as defendants Dr. Friday, Returning Officer Devon Ollivierre, Supervisor of Elections Dora James, and the Attorney General. Dr. Friday has held the seat consecutively since March 28, 2001. During the 2025 campaign, then Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves accused him of retaining Canadian citizenship while contesting office in SVG.
Dr. Friday’s defence team comprises attorneys Zhinga Horne Edwards, Samantha Robertson, and Gabrielle Myers.
In the East Kingstown petition, Mr. Luke Browne is contesting the nomination of Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, the elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Defendants include Mr. Bramble, Returning Officer Jacqueline Browne, Supervisor of Elections Dora James, and the Attorney General.
The petition accuses Mr. Bramble who resided in Canada of holding Canadian citizenship while running in the November 2025 election. Mr. Bramble first won the seat in 2020, succeeding former New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Arnhim Eustace.
Mr. Browne is represented by Al Eliot of A.C. Elliot Attorneys, while Mr. Bramble’s team includes Shirlan Barnwell, Samantha Robertson, and Gabrielle Myers.
Constitutional Context
Neither Dr. Friday nor Mr. Bramble has publicly addressed claims of dual citizenship. SVG’s Constitution permits dual citizenship for Commonwealth citizens serving in Parliament and Canada, as SVG is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. However, a debated grey area highlighted by legal scholars during the 2025 election campaign concerns whether Commonwealth citizens who actively acquired dual citizenship “by virtue of their own act” may legally be nominated as candidates.
This is not the first such case before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court involving dual citizenship claims against elected representatives.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, in March 2020, then opposition leader Dr. Denzil Douglas was required to vacate his seat in the National Assembly after the Court of Appeal ruled that his acquisition and use of a diplomatic passport from Dominica was an unconstitutional acknowledgement of an allegiance to a foreign state.
Political Background
The cases arise amid the NDP’s landslide victory in November 2025, securing 14 of 15 parliamentary seats with over 37,000 votes to the ULP’s 27,000 plus.
In some circles, the involvement of high-profile Trinidadian counsel may cause some members of the public to reminisce on the 2025 campaign rhetoric alleging Trinidadian political influence, particularly over a private housing transaction involving the Gonsalves family. In other circles, it may be seen as the services of qualified Caribbean lawyers being sought after to advise on a landmark constitutional case.
Justice Gertel Thom will preside.
END
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