Current policy
St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a country located in the region of North America. See abbreviation for St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been governed since 2001 by the Social Democratic United Workers’ Party (ULP) with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in the lead. The party won a fourth election victory in December 2015, albeit by a marginal margin.
As in the previous elections, the ULP won with a mandate overweight over the New Democratic Party (NDP). Just as in the 2010 election, NDP leader Arnhim Eustace claimed that cheating has occurred. Foreign election observers noted that some irregularities had occurred, but on the whole the election was approved.
- Countryaah: Country facts and history of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, including state flag, location map, demographics, GDP data, currency code, and business statistics.
However, the NDP refused to approve the election results and conducted several public protests. When Ralph Gonsalves formally took office, protesters tried to prevent him from reaching the building where the ceremony was to take place. The NDP’s members left their seats when the new parliament assembled for its first session. The opposition also boycotted several sessions later in the year.
Arnhim Eustace, who has been opposition leader since 2001 (and prime minister a short time before that) resigned one year after the election as party leader for the NDP. He was succeeded as party leader by Godwin Friday.
In a success for the government, Saint Vincent’s first international airport was inaugurated in February 2017, almost ten years after the project was launched (see also Economic overview). The building of Argyle International Airport was a challenge because of the mountainous terrain of Saint Vincent. Three mountains had to be blown away to be able to build a runway long enough for larger aircraft. Among the financiers are Venezuela, Cuba and Taiwan.
FACTS – POLITICS
Official name
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
GOVERNMENT
monarchy, unitary state
Head of State
Queen Elizabeth II 1
Head of government
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (2001–)
Most important parties with mandates in the last election
United Workers’ Party (ULP) 8, New Democratic Party (NDP) 7 (2015)
Main parties with mandates in the second most recent elections
United Workers’ Party (ULP) 8, New Democratic Party (NDP) 7 (2010)
Turnout
73% in the 2015 parliamentary elections
Upcoming elections
parliamentary elections by 2020
- the British monarch is represented by a General Governor
