Ralph Gonsalves

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in 2013
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Assumed office
28 March 2001
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor General Charles Antrobus
Monica Dacon (Acting)
Frederick Ballantyne
Deputy Sir Louis Straker
Preceded by Arnhim Eustace
Leader of the Unity Labour Party
Assumed office
6 December 1998
Preceded by Vincent Beache
Personal details
Born (1946-08-08) 8 August 1946
Colonarie, British Windward Islands
(now Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political party Unity Labour Party
Spouse(s) Eloise Harris
Alma mater University of the West Indies
University of Manchester
Inns of Court School of Law
Religion Roman Catholicism

Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946) is a Vincentian politician. He currently serves as the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP).[1]

He became Prime Minister after his party won a majority government in the 2001 general election. He is the first Prime Minister from the newly constructed ULP, following a merger of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party and the Movement for National Unity.[2]

Gonsalves has been Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of North Central Windward since 1994. In 1994, upon the formation of the Unity Labour Party he became deputy leader, and became leader of the party in 1998.[2]

Gonsalves' ULP won another majority government in 2005 general election, winning 12 seats. On 13 December 2010, Gonsalves' ULP was re-elected, showing a decrease in the popular vote and winning 8 seats.[3] On 9 December 2015, Gonsalves managed to retain all 8 seats from the previous election while creating history in the Caribbean by increasing overall popular vote.

Early life and education

Gonsalves, known affectionately as "Comrade Ralph", was born in Colonarie, Saint Vincent, British Windward Islands to his father, Alban Gonsalves (a farmer and small businessman, now deceased) and his mother, Theresa Francis (a small business woman). His foreparents came to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1845 as indentured servants from the Portuguese-ruled island of Madeira, some 300 kilometers off the north-west coast of Morocco in North West Africa. [1]

He attended Colonarie Roman Catholic School, and later the St Vincent Grammar School. Gonsalves then enrolled at the University of the West Indies, where he completed a bachelor's degree in economics. He later returned there to earn a master's degree in government, which he completed in 1971. In 1974 he completed a PhD in government at the University of Manchester. Gonsalves was called to the degree of utter barrister at Gray’s Inn in London in 1981.[1]

Political career

Gonsalves became involved in politics at university, as president of the University of West Indies' Guild of Undergraduates and Debating Society. In 1968, he led a student protest of the deportation of historian and intellectual Walter Rodney by the Jamaican government.

In 1994, Gonsalves became the deputy leader of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party. After the resignation of Vincent Beache, Gonsalves became leader of the party in 1998.[2] Gonsalves later led the Unity Labour Party to win the 2001 general election, becoming Prime Minister. His ULP was re-elected in the 2005 general election. In the 2010 general election, Gonsalves and the ULP were narrowly re-elected with 51.11% of the popular vote.[3]

In 2009 Gonsalves and the ULP led a referendum campaign[4] in favour of constitutional reform that would have abolished the country's constitutional monarchy, replacing Elizabeth II[5] with a non-executive president. The referendum was defeated, with 55.64% of voters rejecting the changes.[6]

Outside politics

Gonsalves practices law before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.[1] He has written and published on a range of matters including the Caribbean, Africa, trade unionism, comparative political economy, and developmental issues generally.

Personal life

Gonsavles has been married twice currently he is married to Eloise Harris. He has two sons by his first marriage Camillo and Adam, and one by his second wife Storm, and two daughters, Isis and Soleil.

Allegations of sexual misconduct

In February 2008, a policewoman raised allegations that earlier that year she had been sexually assaulted by Gonsalves, who denied the allegations, characterising them as "political manipulation". The Director of Public Prosecutions did not prosecute, saying "the claim was determined to be groundless and lacked medical or genetic evidence."[7][8] This decision was later upheld by a high court judge.[9]

In May 2008 the Toronto Star reported human rights lawyer Margaret Parsons alleged that Gonsalves assaulted her and attempted to have sex with her five years earlier. He has denied the accusations.[8]

Publications

Books

Pamphlets

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Profile, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Profile, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 Profile, caribbean360.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Profile, caribbean360.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Profile, pdba.georgetown.edu; accessed 1 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Profile, antillean.org, 26 November 2009; accessed 1 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Profile, jamaicaobserver.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  8. 1 2 Profile, thestar.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Profile, caribbean360.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Arnhim Eustace		 Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2001–present 		Incumbent
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