The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Progressive Organization of New York (SPOONYUSA), representing the US branch of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has hailed the party’s sweeping Nov. 27 election victory as the beginning of a ‘new chapter’ for the country.
In a major landslide, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won all but one seat in the 15-seat Legislature. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was the only successful candidate for the incumbent Unity Labor Party (ULP).
The Unity Labor Party (ULP) had controlled the seat of power in the multi-island state for almost a quarter of a century.
“I was extremely surprised by the outcome of the elections, although one of my close friends had correctly predicted this result two months ago,” SPOONYUSA President Stephen “Scombo” John told Caribbean Life on Tuesday, Dec. 2. “The people have given a decisive mandate to the New Democratic Party to govern St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the next five years.
“I believe this represents a clear rejection of the policies and direction of the previous administration, and it is my hope that my party will embrace this opportunity to work diligently toward building a better St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he added.
John said that many Vincentians have expressed “feelings of relief and peace in response to the election results.
“Some have said they feel as though a weight has been lifted from their shoulders, while others have described a newfound sense of peace,” he said.
Looking forward, John emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in the new administration.
“I remain hopeful that all Vincentians will come together, reduce partisan tension and rhetoric, and unite in the shared mission of rebuilding our country,” he said.
Wilda Reddock, a SPOONYUSA trustee, also told Caribbean Life that she was “happy for the change because it was long overdue, which will give others a chance to exercise and demonstrate their patriotism, and assist in the development of the island-state.
“There are brilliant persons in our beautiful island who can give their contributions to its development and do not readily get that chance,” she added. “Congratulations to the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday and his team!”
Nicholas “Nick” Lucas, a Brooklyn-based, ardent Unity Labor Party (ULP) supporter, said, despite his party’s historic loss, “the elections were free and fair.
“But I think the ULP had an uphill battle seeking a sixth term in office,” he said. “The younger generation, who never see anybody else but Ralph (Gonsalves) as a leader, was looking for some kind of change, and that led some of the ULP supporters – the younger ones – to vote for the NDP.
“Ralph has transformed the entire nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and 100 years from now, Ralph’s name will always be mentioned on two main things: Educating the youth, bringing the education revolution; and bringing St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the international stage with the international airport,” Lucas added. “Thank you, Comrade Ralph, for all that you have done!”
Emery Alexander, another Brooklyn-based, strong Unity Labor Party (ULP) supporter, said: “A lot of people didn’t vote, and some people wanted a strong opposition.
“Some of the ULP candidates became complacent,” said the former sergeant in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. “Also, the comrade (Gonsalves) was tired. People wanted a change.
“The worst part was that a lot of people didn’t vote,” Alexander added. “You have to note that NDP supporters came out in their numbers. They didn’t hesitate to vote.”
The crushing vote was a very humiliating defeat for the ULP, which had taken the reigns of power, with Gonsalves at the helm, since 2001.
The British Guardian noted that Dr. Friday, 66, a lawyer and political scientist, took over leadership of the NDP in 2016 but has been in parliament since 2001.
“His party had promised to create ‘more and better-paid jobs’, address rising crime and violence, and improve healthcare and infrastructure,” the publication said.
“It had also pledged to follow other Caribbean countries in allowing individuals to gain citizenship through significant financial contributions to the economy,” it added, noting that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is “the only independent state among the seven-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States not to offer citizenship by investment.”
On Friday, Friday was sworn in as the new prime minister in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
On Tuesday, he named his Cabinet, also assuming for himself the portfolios of Minister of Finance, Minister of Legal Affairs & Justice, Minister of Economic Planning, and Minister of Private Sector Development.
Other ministers sworn-in were: Major St. Clair Leacock – Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Security and Immigration; Andrew John – Minister of Housing, Urban Development, Land Management and Informal Settlement Upgrading; Conroy Huggins – Minister of Fisheries, Marine Conservation and Climate Resilience; Chieftain Neptune – Senator and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister; Daniel Cummings – Minster of Health, Wellness and Energy; Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs; Israel Bruce – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation; and Louise Mitchell-Joseph – Attorney General.
Others sworn-in were: Terrence Ollivierre – Minister of Higher Education, Grenadines Affairs, Local Government, Airport and Seaport; Nigel Stephenson – Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Physical Planning; Shevern John – Minister of Social Welfare and Community Empowerment, Disaster Management and National Heritage; Laverne Gibson-Velox – Minister of The Family, Gender Affairs, Persons With disabilities, Occupational Safety and Labor; Phillip Jackson – Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Innovation and Digital Transformation; Kashacka Cupid – Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Creative Industries; Dr. Kishore Shallow – Minister of Tourism and Maritime Affairs; and Lavern King – Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Digital Transformation.
