KINGSTOWN (Nationa News) – The St Vincent and the Grenadines government says it will await advice from the Office of the Attorney General on whether or not to appeal a High Court ruling that is allowing public servants who were dismissed over their refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to file a lawsuit against the state.
“I don’t have a response of the government other than whatever the court ruling on this original preliminary skirmish … that when the Attorney General’s chambers … read the judgment itself, they may decide whether or not they appeal particular aspects of judgment, because it was a mixed judgment,” Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has said.
Last Thursday, the High Court denied permission for judicial review of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Under the mandate, a wide cross-section of government workers had to take a jab to stay in their jobs.
But in her ruling, Justice Esco Henry said that the court should hear the case by former government workers who were dismissed for abandoning their posts, even though the law under which they were fired deemed them absent if they attended work while being unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Gonsalves told reporters that the plaintiffs might appeal aspects of the judgment.
“I don’t know… I read the order; I’ve consulted with the lawyers, naturally. I understand the nature of the order and we await the written judgment,” said Gonsalves, who is also a lawyer.
