Saint Vincent and the Grenadines swore in Godwin Friday as the new prime minister this Friday, ending 24 years of rule by Ralph Gonsalves, a veteran left-wing leader and close ally of Cuba and Venezuela.
The defeat of Gonsalves marks a political turn in the insular Caribbean, at a time when the United States intensifies an anti-drug operation in the region directed against alleged drug trafficking from Venezuela.
The end of an era
Ralph Gonsalves governed the small archipelago since 2001 and became one of the longest-serving democratic leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean.
His departure from power represents the fall of a key figure in the defense of the governments of Cuba and Venezuela in their disputes with the United States.
During his mandate, Gonsalves was a firm defender of regional integration and an active ally in organizations such as ALBA, Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac). In 2023, he even facilitated a meeting between Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali to discuss the territorial dispute over Essequibo, a territory rich in oil.
Friday’s victory
Godwin Friday, a 66-year-old historian and leader of the moderate conservative New Democratic Party (NDP), won a landslide victory, winning 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats.
His victory was celebrated in Kingstown, the capital, where hundreds of supporters dressed in yellow and blue greeted him with vuvuzelas and chants of “Friday! Friday! Friday!”
“I know we are a poor country, but we can do a lot more with what we have than what we are currently doing,” Friday declared after being sworn in at a solemn ceremony.
He promised to create jobs, increase wages, improve security and invest in key infrastructure for the archipelago’s 100,000 inhabitants.
The country’s GDP is around 1.16 billion dollars (2024), with a GDP per capita close to 9,476 USD and a small economy, dependent on tourism, agriculture and some financial services.
Reactions in the region
Gonsalves’ defeat was met with mixed messages. The Venezuelan government thanked the outgoing leader for his “commitment to regional integration” and expressed willingness to work with Friday “within the framework of mutual respect and bilateral cooperation.” Cuba, meanwhile, congratulated the new prime minister and reaffirmed its willingness to maintain ties of friendship, while recognizing Gonsalves as “a true friend.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, congratulated Prime Minister Godwin Friday with a message in X and reiterated Cuba’s willingness to “continue strengthening the historical and solid relations of friendship, cooperation and solidarity” that unite the two States.
He also assured that Havana will accompany Saint Vincent and the Grenadines “in their just fights.”
On the other hand, on the social network itself, the Cuban Foreign Minister thanked Gonsalves for “your permanent solidarity and friendship with the people of Cuba, who recognize in you a true friend.”
“Our America and especially the Caribbean, recognizes your selfless work in favor of unity, integration and cooperation in the region,” he added and extended a big hug.
For his part, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the career of the outgoing leader in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), while congratulating Friday for starting “a new chapter for the people of Saint Vincent.”
The change occurs in a context of increasing US military and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela. Washington has deployed warships and planes to the Caribbean as part of an anti-drug operation that accuses Maduro’s government of leading an international cartel.
The transition in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines could facilitate closer alignment with US positions.
Internal challenges
Friday inherits a country with an unemployment rate of 18% and a poverty rate of 26%. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is heavily dependent on tourism and is still struggling to recover from the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in 2021.
His party has defended citizenship-by-investment programs and the possibility of closer ties with China, while the Gonsalves government had maintained relations with Taiwan.
The new prime minister also faces the challenge of maintaining political stability after a victory that devastated the opposition. Although he promised to govern for everyone, the magnitude of his victory leaves his party with almost absolute control of Parliament.
So far, Ralph Gonsalves has not made any public statements following his defeat. His son, former Finance Minister Camilo Gonsalves, acknowledged the loss of his seat and thanked his supporters.
The Labor Unity Party posted a brief message on social media: “We love you, SVG, and we will continue to work and advocate for you. This is not the end, it is the beginning.”
In Kingstown, some NDP supporters staged a farewell to the outgoing leader by throwing a cardboard coffin covered with campaign posters from Gonsalves’ party into the sea, in a symbolic gesture of the end of an era.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, becoming a member of the Commonwealth.
