In a historic political shift, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has inaugurated a new prime minister for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, following elections that ended the long rule of left-leaning leader Ralph Gonsalves.
Gonsalves — a prominent regional figure and steadfast ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — had governed the island nation since 2001. But in a sweeping electoral upset, his Unity Labour Party secured just one of the country’s 15 constituencies.
The remaining 14 seats were claimed by the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Godwin Friday, giving him a decisive mandate in the tourism-reliant archipelago of approximately 100,000 people.
Although Gonsalves had not publicly conceded as of Friday evening, his son, Camillo Gonsalves, who served as finance minister, accepted defeat in his own constituency.
Friday, 66, a historian by profession, campaigned on a platform promising financial support for new mothers, the reinstatement of workers dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, strengthened assistance for small businesses, and measures to ease the rising cost of living.
“I know that we are a poor country, but we can do a lot more with what we have than we are doing currently, and I urge us all to work to that end,” Friday said shortly after assuming office.
The election unfolded against the backdrop of a notable U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, including the deployment of the world’s largest aircraft carrier—officially part of efforts to combat drug trafficking from Venezuela into the United States.
Caracas, however, has accused Washington of using the deployment as a tactic to pressure Maduro.
During his 24-year tenure, Gonsalves frequently defended Maduro in regional bodies such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
He also hosted a 2023 summit between Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali amid escalating tensions over the disputed Essequibo region.
Gonsalves maintained close ties with several leftist leaders across Latin America, including Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel.
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