Island’s Unrest Troubles Britain

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 10

Island’s Unrest Troubles Britain

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, April 7. A constitutional crisis on St. Vincent, a tiny island in the eastern Caribbean, is causing “fun and games” in Whitehall. This week, the Defence Ministry indicated that a frigate, H.M.S. Salisbury, was being rerouted to the area because of “unrest.” Within hours, the island’s Chief Minister, Mr Joshua, denied that there was unrest on the island. The Commonwealth Office said on Wednesday that Salisbury was undergoing routine maintenance in Trinidad and that another frigate, H.M.S. Zest, was on routine patrol in the eastern Caribbean. Neither, it said, had been

instructed to go to St. Vincent. The island’s problems began when a member of the Government, Mr Slater, the Minister for Social Services, deserted to join the Opposition. His action gave the Oppotion a Parliamentary majority of one—five to four. : Mr Joshua denies that a ! defection by a Minister . means he has lost his man- ’ date to govern the island, 1 whatever the Parliamentary niceties may be. i The island’s administrator , and officials of the Common- : wealth Office cannot make up their minds whether or not !to dissolve Parliament and ■ hold fresh elections. - ( The situation is complil bated further because a , boundary commission is ex- ! amining proposed new con- ■ stituencies which would provide for a 13-member Parliai ment.