General
Radio DJ Killed amid ongoing violence
On 16th August 2025, Boom FM disc jockey Gasroy “DJ Swagga” Fergusson was shot and killed near the station’s premises in Paul’s Avenue, Kingstown. The 35-year-old DJ was socialising at a nearby shop when a gunman opened fire from a vehicle, also injuring another man. Critics said repeated gang crackdowns have failed to address the root causes of insecurity. The killing comes as St. Vincent and the Grenadines faces high levels of violence, with a homicide rate of 53 per 100,000 people in 2024, among the highest in the Caribbean.
Association
Public Service Union condemns Prime Minister’s son over remarks targeting public sector workers
On 19th August 2025, Storm Gonsalves, son of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, accused some public servants of sabotaging government initiatives for political reasons. He described certain officials as “demigods” and warned they would be “cut down to size”.
In response, on 20th August 2025, the Public Service Union (PSU) criticised Gonsalves’ comments as “baseless and harmful”. The union said the statements amounted to a threat against civil servants and could encourage political victimisation. It also stressed that administrative delays often result from systemic inefficiencies rather than bias, citing outdated procedures and limited staffing. The PSU urged public figures to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to work collaboratively on reforms to improve accountability and governance.
Expression
Civic tech initiatives boost voter access to information ahead of elections
In September 2025, ahead of the upcoming general election, two Vincentian computer scientists published digital initiatives aimed at modernising access to electoral information. Sharma London launched the Voter Analysis System (VALSY), an online tool allowing voters to verify their registration status and polling station details. The platform, built on a 15-year analytics system, draws on the publicly available quarterly voter list and requires no user sign-up. London said the initiative seeks to improve efficiency and transparency while respecting privacy and electoral laws.
Likewise, Europe-based software engineer Janique-Ka John unveiled Decision SVG, an interactive database of national election results from 1994 to 2020. The platform provides detailed constituency-level data, including candidate names, party performance, and voter turnout trends. John hopes to expand it to include real-time results on election night to enhance civic engagement.
Two newsrooms receive emergency media kits to strengthen disaster reporting
In August 2025, two media outlets, iWitness News and SVG Broadcasting Corporation, received emergency media kits from the press media organisation Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), with support from the British Resident Commissioner. The donation forms part of a regional initiative to enhance the capacity of independent newsrooms to report on natural hazards and emergencies.
The Vincentian outlets were among eight media organisations across the Caribbean selected to receive the kits, which include essential equipment for field reporting during crises. The project aims to help journalists maintain operations and deliver timely, reliable information to the public during hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.
“Our collaboration with the British Resident Commissioner in Kingstown truly elevates disaster readiness and reinforces the indispensable role of independent journalism in protecting lives and livelihoods across the Caribbean”, said Kiran Maharaj, president of MIC.