Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946) is a Vincentian politician. He is currently the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP).[4]
Gonsalves is the longest continuously serving head of government since St. Vincent and the Grenadines became independent in 1979. He became prime minister after his party won a majority government in the 2001 general election. He was the first prime minister from the newly constructed ULP, following a merger of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party and the Movement for National Unity.[5]
Gonsalves has been Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of North Central Windward since 1994. In 1994, upon the formation of the Unity Labour Party he became deputy leader, and became leader of the party in 1998.[5]
With Gonsalves as leader, the ULP won a majority in the popular vote in every general election from 1998 through 2015, though it failed to secure the majority of parliamentary seats in the 1998 election. In 2020, the ULP won the election, but did not win the popular vote.[6] On 7 November 2020, Gonsalves was sworn in for his fifth term as prime minister.[7]
Gonsalves is the current longest-serving democratically-elected state leader.
- ^ a b "CARICOM Heads of Government Meet on Friday – Handover of Chairmanship to feature". 2 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "PM leads ministerial delegation to CARICOM Heads meetings". thebahamasweekly.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ Profile Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
- ^ a b Profile Archived 28 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
- ^ "ULP wins 5 in a row". iWitness News. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "GG urges PM to continue inclusive governance". iWitness News. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.