Ralph Gonsalves
Ralph Gonsalves | |
|---|---|
Gonsalves in 2024 | |
| 4th Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | |
| In office 29 March 2001 – 28 November 2025 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governors-General | Charles Antrobus Monica Dacon (Acting) Frederick Ballantyne Susan Dougan |
| Deputy | Girlyn Miguel (2010–2015) Louis Straker (2015–2020) Montgomery Daniel (2020–2025) |
| Preceded by | Arnhim Eustace |
| Succeeded by | Godwin Friday |
| Leader of the Opposition of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2025 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Governors-General | Susan Dougan Stanley John |
| Preceded by | Godwin Friday |
| In office 8 December 1999 – 11 January 2001 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General | Charles Antrobus |
| Preceded by | Vincent Beache |
| Succeeded by | Arnhim Eustace |
| Leader of the Unity Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 6 December 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Vincent Beache |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 July 2020 – 30 December 2021 | |
| Secretary-General | Irwin LaRocque |
| Preceded by | Mia Mottley |
| Succeeded by | Keith Rowley |
| In office 1 January 2014 – 30 June 2014 | |
| Secretary-General | Irwin LaRocque |
| Preceded by | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
| Succeeded by | Gaston Browne |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 29 March 2001 – 10 November 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Arnhim Eustace |
| Succeeded by | Camillo Gonsalves |
| Member of Parliament for North Central Windward | |
| Assumed office 21 March 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Peters |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 August 1946 |
| Party | Unity Labour Party |
| Spouse | Eloise Harris |
| Children | 5, including Camillo |
| Alma mater | |
Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946) is a Vincentian politician who served as prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 2001 to 2025, and as the leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) since 2001. He was the longest continuously serving prime minister since St. Vincent's independence in 1979, with almost 25 years in office. Gonsalves has been Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of North Central Windward since 1994.
He became deputy leader upon the formation of the ULP in 1994 and party leader in 1998. Gonsalves 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.
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. On 7 November 2020, Gonsalves was sworn in for his fifth term as prime minister. In the 2025 general election, his party was defeated by Godwin Friday's New Democratic Party, with Gonsalves being the only member of the ULP to win re-election.
Gonsalves was the longest-serving democratically-elected state leader since Samoan PM Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi was replaced in 2021, until his defeat in 2025.