Both St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Opposition Leader Godwin Friday have noted the right of persons to challenge laws that criminalise buggery in that country. Noting it was a very contentious issue Dr Gonzales said the
The two leaders expressed their views separately this week after court action by Vincentians – 53 year old Sean MacLeish and 22 year old Javin Johnson – challenging the constitutionality of the laws.
Dr. Gonsalves said the essence of the legal challenge would relate to consenting adults having sex in the privacy of their home.
He also noted that the buggery laws capture acts between same sex and heterosexual couples.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Godwin Friday said the legal challenge is not surprising. Mr. Friday, also commented on the issue of same-sex relations, saying it is a very contentious matter in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the Caribbean.
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