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Main Points
Ralph Gonsalves has alleged that external interests seeking citizenship-by-investment opportunities provided substantial financial support to the opposition during the election that removed his government from office.
Gonsalves said he viewed campaigning involving political operatives from Trinidad and Tobago as part of what he believed was a coordinated effort by forces outside the Caribbean. However, he made clear that he did not believe those Trinidad-based operatives were responsible, either significantly or marginally, for his defeat.
Instead, he claimed external funding was more consequential. Gonsalves said interests seeking access to St Vincent and the Grenadines passports through citizenship-by-investment had provided money during previous election cycles and alleged that significantly more was contributed on the latest occasion.
He did not identify the alleged funders by name or present documentary evidence during the interview to substantiate the funding claim.
Gonsalves also acknowledged that his own administration bore responsibility for its defeat, saying his side had to look inward at government wear and tear, difficult decisions and public dissatisfaction rather than attributing the result entirely to outside forces. He now serves as Leader of the Opposition. House of Assembly
