St. Vincent and the Grenadines has entered a new political era following the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) victory in the 2025 general election, ending the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) 24-year hold on government.
Dr Godwin Friday, leader of the NDP, is poised to become the nation’s seventh prime minister since independence in 1979. His win comes after a closely contested race against outgoing Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who had been seeking an unprecedented sixth consecutive term. The NDP secured an early and decisive lead, winning 11 parliamentary seats and returning to office after 25 years in opposition.
The result marks a dramatic close to the Gonsalves era. At 79, Gonsalves leaves office as one of the Caribbean’s most enduring political figures, having first taken the helm in 2001 and becoming CARICOM’s longest-serving head of government.
More than 103,000 Vincentians were eligible to vote across 250 polling stations nationwide. Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and saw steady turnout throughout the day, with oversight provided by the CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission and the National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism. Supervisor of Elections Dora James reminded the public that proxy voting was prohibited and encouraged persons with disabilities to make use of available assistance at polling sites.
This year’s election was widely viewed as one of the country’s most competitive in decades. Both major parties—the ULP and the NDP—fielded candidates in all 15 constituencies, joined by the National Liberation Movement (NLM) and one independent contender. The NDP campaigned on promises of renewed leadership, improved governance, and relief from rising living costs—messages that resonated strongly across key constituencies.
As Dr Friday prepares to assume office, national attention turns to the policies and priorities of his incoming administration and how it intends to address the economic and social challenges facing the country after years of calls for political change.