ST. VINCENT-Vincentians voting to elect a new government.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – More than 103,000 voters are going to the 250 polling stations here on Thursday to elect a new government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in an election that political observers say could signal the end of the political career of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves, 79, the longest serving head of government in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is leading his ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) into the election, hoping for a sixth consecutive victory. Still, he faces an uphill task, as the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) seeks to end its 25-year stay in the political wilderness under the 66-year-old attorney, Dr. Godwin Friday.

Both the ULP and the NDP are fielding candidates in all 15 constituencies.

The National Liberation Movement (NLM) is represented by its leader, Dr. Doris Charles, who is contesting the South Leeward seat, while another female candidate, Kenna Questelles, the lone independent in the race, is contesting the West St George seat.

In the last general election, the ULP won nine of the 15 seats.

According to the Electoral Office, the number of persons eligible to cast ballots is 103,524 as compared with 101,744 in the 2024 general election, with the East St George constituency, which had the most significant number of registered voters in the last general election, still occupying that position with a total of 9,369 registered voters.

It is the only constituency with more than 9,000 registered voters, while the closest constituency, South Leeward, has 8,927 registered voters.

The polling stations open at 7.00 am (local time) and close 10 hours later, with the Supervisor of Elections, Dora James, reminding the public that proxy voting is not permitted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and all eligible voters, including those who are blind or living with disabilities, are being urged to make arrangements to visit their polling stations.

James said that every voter must be physically present to cast a ballot, adding that assistance will be provided at polling stations for those who need help.

She added that while the Electoral Office does not provide transportation for disabled voters, it is customary for political parties and community groups to offer support to ensure their supporters get to the polls.

The polls are being monitored by a CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) and the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism.