Canouan activist says incident with financier ‘unfortunate’

Canouan resident and activist, Terry Bynoe, has described an altercation between himself and British financier, Ian Wace, as unfortunate and said he would like to put the incident behind him.

Sometime after 10:00 a.m last Friday, December 3,2025, Bynoe and Wace were involved in a heated argument that ended with both men getting physical and Bynoe being detained by police until around 10:00 p.m. the same day.

Giving his side of the incident, Bynoe said his wife was walking to the bank on the Grenadine Island and the Brit was using an air blower- a piece of equipment used to clear debris.

He said his wife was walking in an area where Wace was using the piece of equipment, and at one point, dust was blown on her which resulted in a heated exchange between the financier and the woman.

Bynoe said he later heard his wife telling some persons about the argument, and he sought out Wace for clarity on the matter.

He said he approached Wace who was still using the blower, tapped him on his shoulder, and asked him what had transpired.

“I touched him on his shoulder and asked him why he had to disrespect the lady, and he said ‘#@!& you Terry’, and put the blower in my face, so then I pushed him out my face and he push me back…”.

Bynoe said he left the scene and went back to the shop in the Grand Bay market area where he was before the incident occurred, and later the police came, asked him for his licensed firearm and arrested him. He said they also took his phone.

He said he and Wace have worked before “to get things done at the market…”. Bynoe also told SEARCHLIGHT that when he was taken to the police station, he was cautioned, told to sit down, and was released without being charged, but his firearm was not returned to him.

Bynoe said he understands that Wace said he did not want to proceed with the matter.

“They say I pulled my firearm, but … that is definitely not true. My firearm never left my waist and was never involved in any altercation.”

Bynoe said when he went back to the shop, several guys whom he knows began threatening him.

“A couple guys were at the market with Hairoun crates and bottles and saying I can’t do the man so; making threats to burn my vehicle and my boat and my house, and people were shouting,” Bynoe said.

He explained that he is responsible for the upkeep of the market, and on many occasions have had to call the police on some of the same men who were threatening him.

“I got the firearm because they threw a big stone in me vehicle windscreen three years ago when it was in my yard.

“Just after Beryl, they slashed five of my boat trailer tires. I have been threatened with violence many times and I never draw my firearm,” Bynoe told SEARCHLIGHT, while adding that stories are being fabricated.

“It is unfortunate that a man like Wace, who has contributed in a tremendous way to the island…this happened. I have asked him for help and he complied, and for an unfortunate reason this is happening, and I wish one day he could simply meet me and we could say ‘sorry, we could work together’,” Bynoe said.

He said he did not choose to fight with Wace, and it is unfortunate that his spouse was treated in such a manner.

“It is not just my wife but a citizen, and if it was a tourist, he would have stopped for them to pass. I find it strange because people would usually stop when they are using the blower, even if a car is passing.

“I have nothing against him. I would shake hands and say ‘we went down the wrong road, let’s have a soda water on that’. I just looking forward to moving on,” Bynoe said.

Wace is working closely with the government in the rebuilding efforts in the Grenadines, particularly Union Island, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl. On December 28, 2024, Wace, a philanthropist and CEO of the Gombolimbo Group offloaded around 5-million British pounds worth of equipment and materials in Kingstown for use in the rebuilding process in the Grenadines.