List of prime ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Last updated

Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg
Coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Ralph Gonsalves 2023.jpg
Incumbent
Ralph Gonsalves
since 29 March 2001
Style The Right Honourable
Residence Prime Minister's Official Residence, Kingstown
Appointer Governor-General
Term length Five years
Inaugural holder Ebenezer Joshua
(as Chief Minister)
Milton Cato
(as Premier)
Formation27 October 1979
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister
Salary150,454 Eastern Caribbean dollars/55,724 USD annually [1]
Website www.pmoffice.gov.vc

This article contains a list of prime ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines .

Contents

Constitutional basis

The office of prime minister is established by section 51 of the country's constitution, which provides that the governor-general shall appoint as prime minister the member of the House of Assembly "who appears to him likely to command the support of the majority of the Representatives". [2]

Section 51(6) of the constitution requires the governor-general to remove the prime minister from office if the House of Assembly passes a motion of no confidence, unless within three days the prime minister either resigns or advises the governor-general to call an election. [3]

List of officeholders

Political parties
   People's Political Party (PPP)
   Saint Vincent Labour Party (SVLP)
   Independent
   New Democratic Party (UBP)
   Unity Labour Party (ULP)

Chief ministers of Saint Vincent (1960–1969)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 No image.png Ebenezer Joshua
(1908–1991)
1961
1966
9 January 1960 [4] 30 May 19677 years, 141 days PPP
2 Milton Cato
(1915–1997)
1967 30 May 1967 [5] 27 October 19692 years, 150 days SVLP

Premiers of Saint Vincent (1969–1979)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Milton Cato
(1915–1997)
27 October 196913 April 19722 years, 169 days SVLP
2 James F. Mitchell 1986 (cropped).jpg James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
(1931–2021)
1972 14 April 19728 December 19742 years, 238 days Independent
(1) Milton Cato
(1915–1997)
1974 8 December 197427 October 19794 years, 323 days SVLP

Prime ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979–present)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Milton Cato
(1915–1997)
1979 27 October 197930 July 19844 years, 277 days SVLP
2 James F. Mitchell 1986 (cropped).jpg Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
(1931–2021)
1984
1989
1994
1998
30 July 198427 October 200016 years, 89 days NDP
3 Arnhim Eustace.jpg Arnhim Eustace
(born 1944)
27 October 200029 March 2001153 days NDP
4 Ralph Gonsalves 2023.jpg Ralph Gonsalves
(born 1946)
2001
2005
2010
2015
2020
29 March 2001Incumbent23 years, 34 days ULP

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis</span>

The politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis takes place in the framework of a federal parliamentary democracy. Saint Kitts and Nevis is an independent Commonwealth realm with Charles III as its head of state, viceregally represented by a Governor-General. He acts on the advice of the prime minister, who is the majority party leader in the National Assembly, and who, with a cabinet, conducts affairs of state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Saint Lucia</span> Politics in the country of Saint Lucia

Politics of Saint Lucia takes place in the framework of an independent parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as its head of state, represented by a Governor General, who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party of the house, and the cabinet conducts affairs of state. The Governor General exercises basically ceremonial functions, but residual powers, under the constitution, can be used at the governor general's discretion. The actual power in St. Lucia lies with the prime minister and the cabinet, usually representing the majority party in parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</span> Country in the Caribbean

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the eastern Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies, at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea, where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines takes place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as its king, represented by a governor-general, who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party of the House of Assembly, and the cabinet conducts affairs of state. The governor-general exercises ceremonial functions, but reserve powers, under the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines constitution, can be used at the governor-general's discretion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Gonsalves</span> Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (since 2001)

Ralph Everard Gonsalves is a Vincentian politician. He is currently the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Fitz-Allen Mitchell</span> Vincentian politician (1931–2021)

SirJames Fitz-Allen Mitchell was a Vincentian politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 1984 to 2000 and as the second Premier of Saint Vincent from 1972 to 1974. He founded the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1975, and served as its president until 2000.

Robert Milton Cato,, was a socialist Vincentian politician who served as the first Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and also held the offices Premier of Saint Vincent and Chief Minister of Saint Vincent before independence. Cato was the leader of the Saint Vincent Labour Party, and led the country through independence in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)</span> Political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is a moderate conservative political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The party is led by Godwin Friday, and is currently the official opposition in the House of Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unity Labour Party</span> Political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The Unity Labour Party (ULP) is a democratic socialist political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Currently the governing party, it is led by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

Ebenezer Theodore Joshua was a Vincentian politician and the first chief minister of Saint Vincent from 1960 to 1967. He was the Leader of the Legislative Council from 1956 to 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Saint Lucia</span> System of government in Saint Lucia

The monarchy of Saint Lucia is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Saint Lucia. The current monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Saint Lucian Crown. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Saint Lucia and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of the Saint Lucian state. However, the King is the only member of the royal family with any constitutional role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</span> System of government in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The current Vincentian monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Vincentian Crown. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and, in this capacity, he and other members of the royal family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, the King is the only member of the royal family with any constitutional role.

A constitutional referendum was held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 25 November 2009. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution which would have replaced the constitution in force since independence in 1979. The proposal was supported by only 43.13% of voters in the referendum, well short of the required two-thirds threshold. If approved, the proposed constitution would have abolished the monarchy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at the time headed by Queen Elizabeth II, and would have given more power to the opposition. The referendum was the first of its kind to be held by a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Vincentian general election</span>

General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 9 December 1974. The result was a victory for the Saint Vincent Labour Party, which won ten of the 13 seats. Voter turnout was 63.2%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</span>

Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a senior cabinet-level position in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The deputy prime minister is appointed by the prime minister. The position of deputy prime minister is not formally provided in the constitution, but the holder of the position usually is the first choice for acting prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alphonso Dennie</span> Vincentian educator (1928–2020)

Alphonso Alpheus Dennie was a Vincentian educator who served as the Minister of Education, Community Development and Youth Affairs from 4 May 1972 to 18 September 1974. Outside of politics, he was the headmaster of schools both in the country as well as in Barbados. He spent the latter part of his career as chairman of the national electricity company and as chairman of the philatelic bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montgomery Daniel</span>

Montgomery Daniel is a Vincentian politician. Montgomery is also the Unity Labour Party North Windward candidate for 2020 Vincentian general election. He has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of North Windward in the House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001. He has been the Deputy Prime Minister since 30 November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlyn Miguel</span> Vincentian educator and politician (born 1948)

Girlyn Miguel is a Vincentian educator and politician who served in the Parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 1998 until 2015. A member of the Unity Labour Party, Miguel also served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

The following lists events that happened during 2022 in the Caribbean.

References

  1. Ministry of Finance of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (5 September 2018). "Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-05.
  2. Article 51, Section 1–2 of the Constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines  (1979)
  3. Article 51, Section 6 of the Constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines  (1979)
  4. "Saint Vincent government gazette Vol. 93 No. 3". 9 January 1960. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  5. "Saint Vincent government gazette Vol. 100 No. 34". 30 May 1967. Retrieved 13 May 2022.

Further reading

See also