Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves recently expressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his concerns regarding the visa discrepancies faced by Vincentians.
Gonsalves discussed the disparities during the Canada-CARICOM Summit, emphasizing the visa-free access granted to individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities, some with questionable pasts, as opposed to the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
A plea for equality: The visa conundrum
Gonsalves expressed that despite holding notable historical ties and contributions, such as the descendants of Robert Milton Cato—who fought against the Nazis in World War II—the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines are still mandated to go through a visa process or acquire an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) contingent on fulfilling specific prerequisites.
According to Gonsalves, The Canadian Prime Minister said that they will continue to look into the matter.
The continued advocacy for visa-free access
Undeterred by the customary responses, Prime Minister Gonsalves stands steadfast in his commitment to lobbying for visa-free or more simplified access to Canada for Vincentians.
