For the first time in more than two decades, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has elected a new prime minister, with Godwin Friday winning power after defeating the long-ruling government of left-leaning leader Ralph Gonsalves.
Friday was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, 29 November, local time. Gonsalves—an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—had been in office since 2001. His party, the Unity Labour Party, won only one of 15 seats in the latest election, while Friday’s New Democratic Party secured the remaining 14 seats. Official results have not yet been released.
Following Thursday’s election, the NDP thanked voters on social media for their support in the party leader’s constituency, saying: “We love you. We will continue working for you and supporting you.”
Gonsalves’ more than two decades in office made him one of the world’s longest-serving democratic leaders. Friday, a 66-year-old historian, won public support with campaign promises to ease the cost of living, including financial aid for new mothers, job opportunities for the recently unemployed, and support programs for small businesses.
The election took place at a time when the Caribbean region is witnessing a growing U.S. military presence. The United States has deployed one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers to the area, citing anti-drug trafficking operations. Venezuela, however, accuses Washington of seeking to remove Maduro from power.
Gonsalves had long been a strong supporter of Maduro in regional organizations. In 2023, he even hosted a summit during heightened tensions between Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali over the disputed Essequibo region.
Gonsalves was also among the last remaining figures from Latin America’s first “Pink Tide”—the wave of left-leaning leaders elected across the region in the late 1990s and early 2000s, from Brazil to Venezuela.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an archipelago of 32 islands, only nine of which are inhabited. With a population of just over 100,000, the country’s economy relies heavily on agriculture and tourism. Ahead of the election, Friday pledged to increase wages, improve security, and strengthen ties with China.
Source: Al Jazeera