Pres Ali joins CARICOM in congratulating new PM of SVG

…as Ralph Gonsalves recognised for valuable contributions

President Dr Irfaan Ali has joined his colleagues in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in congratulating Dr Godwin Friday on his election as the new Prime Minister (PM) of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). In a landmark political transformation, SVG’s New Democratic Party (NDP) secured victory in the 2025 national elections, concluding a quarter-century period outside the Government’s central leadership. Friday, the party’s leader, will become the island’s fifth PM since its 1979 independence, after winning a tightly contested electoral race against long-serving former PM Ralph Gonsalves.
The NDP’s strategic campaign culminated in securing 14 out of 15 parliamentary seats, effectively ending Gonsalves’ extended political tenure.
In a message on his Facebook page on Friday, President Ali said “I look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister-elect to deepen the bilateral cooperation between Guyana and St Vincent and the Grenadines and to advancing regionalism”.

“At a time when the Caribbean faces both new opportunities and shared challenges, I am confident that our partnership will continue to grow in ways that benefit our peoples and our region,” the Guyanese Head of State added.
President Ali also used to opportunity to reflect on the contributions of former PM Gonsalves to CARICOM. He expressed that Gonsalves’ “long and dedicated service to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines and to Caribbean regionalism have earned him respect across our community. His contributions to the advancement of CARICOM will be long remembered.” Gonsalves was first elected in March 2001, making him one of the world’s longest serving democratic leaders in recent history.

Gonsalves’ party posted a brief statement on Facebook following Thursday’s election: “We love you, SVG, and we will keep working and advocating for you. This is not the end. It is the beginning.”
Meanwhile, in a statement on Friday, CARICOM extended congratulations and best wishes Friday on his election.
“CARICOM welcomes Prime Minister Friday to the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, and looks forward to working with him and the members of the new administration of St Vincent and the Grenadines in support of strengthened and effective regional integration,” the statement reads.
Friday, who had previously run against Gonsalves in the 2020 election and lost, has promised to create more jobs, raise wages, improve security and invest in key infrastructure in the island group of more than 100,000 people.