ST. VINCENT-Friday leads NDP to victory in the general election.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Godwin Friday, on Thursday ended 25 years of being in the political wilderness after voters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines gave his party an overwhelming victory in the general election and in the process prevented the longest serving government leader from extending his hold on power.

“Thank you to everyone who voted today,” the NDP said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Friday, 66, will become the seventh head of government in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, after preliminary results show that the NDP won at least 11 of the 15 seats in the general election, putting a halt to outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ desire to lead the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to a sixth consecutive victory.

“This election is too important. Don’t leave it up to someone else, make your vote count and join your friends, family, and neighbours who are voting NDP for a better future in SVG,” Friday had urged voters a few hours ahead of the opening of the polls.

Gonsalves, 79, was among the ULP candidates to have retained their seats, polling 2,577 to regain the Windward seat as against 926 for the NDP’s Cheftain Neptune.

But among the casualties were his son and Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves, who lost to the NDP’s Laverine Gibson-Velox.

“I believe the voter is always right and the voice of the people is the voice of God, and even in my disappointment today, I hold fast to those beliefs as the foundation of our democracy,” the outgoing Finance Minister said, congratulating Gibson-Velox on her victory.

“They said sometimes you win and sometimes you learn, and I am definitely learning a lot tonight,” he added.

NDP public relations officer, Lavern King, said she has since been instructed by Friday to announce tomorrow, a public holiday, adding “we celebrate from Kingstown wharf at 12 noon”.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ULP told supporters, “We love you, SVG, and we will keep working and advocating for you. This is not the end, it is the beginning,” over a “Thank You” picture of Gonsalves and the other candidates.

Among the successful NDP candidates is the president of Cricket West Indies, Dr. Kishore Shallow, who easily defeated the Tourism Minister Carlos James in the North Leeward constituency.

Barbados-based regional political pollster and analyst, Peter Wickham, said there had been an average 5 per cent swing away from the ULP, noting also that the party had been experiencing dwindling support since the last two general elections.

Former NDP chairman, Dr. Linton Lewis, said the party had “skillfully” avoided several issues during the campaign, including the NDP’s breaking relationship with Taiwan in preference to China and the controversial Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme that would allow for foreign investors to receive citizenship of the island in return for making a substantial investment in the island’s socio-economic development.

“The time for a change is a compelling slogan, especially when you have been in office for 25 years,” Linton added.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, who in September led his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to an unprecedented third consecutive term in office, extended “warm congratulations” to Friday, saying “this is an essential moment for the Vincentian people, who have participated in a peaceful and democratic process to shape the future of their nation.

“I wish Dr. Friday every success as he undertakes the responsibility of national leadership, and I pray God’s guidance and wisdom upon him in the work ahead.

“Jamaica values its close friendship with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and we look forward to strengthening our cooperation as we continue to build a more resilient and prosperous Caribbean region together,” Holness said, adding,” may this new chapter bring hope, unity, and progress for all Vincentians at home and across the diaspora”.

St. Lucia’s Opposition Leader, Allen Chastanet, who is hoping to win the government in the December 1 general election, also extended congratulations to Friday, saying, “This victory is a testament to your perseverance, your integrity, and the trust the people have placed in your leadership.

“May your tenure be guided by wisdom, progress, and an unwavering commitment to the people you now serve,” he added.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a statement, said that she wanted to congratulate the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, “where a resounding democratic mandate was given to the New Democratic Party and Dr. Godwin Friday.

“I commend the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for upholding the highest ideals of democracy”.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Gonsalves had criticised the ruling United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago for sending activists and others to campaign alongside the NDP, an accusation Persad-Bissessar denied.