St Vincent and the Grenadines - Head of Government

The Hon Dr Ralph Everard Gonsalves is serving his third term as Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines after his Unity Labour Party (ULP) won re-election in the December 2010 polls.

Dr Gonsalves first took office in March 2001 and continued for a second term from December 2005. He is concurrently Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs.

Dr Gonsalves was Leader of the Opposition from October 1999 until his election in March 2001. He has been Leader of the ULP since 1998 after holding the post of Deputy Leader from 1994 to 1998. Between 1979 and 1994, he held leadership positions in the United People’s Movement and the Movement for National Unity.

Dr Gonsalves had practised law before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, UK. Dr Gonsalves earned his Doctorate in Government from the University of Manchester, UK, as well as a Master’s degree in Government from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the same university.

Dr Gonsalves is the author of several books, including The Politics of Our Caribbean Civilisation: Essays and Speeches (2001), and History and the Future: A Caribbean Perspective (1994).

He was born on 8 August 1946 in Colonarie, St Vincent.