Ralph Gonsalves

Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 March 2001
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor General Charles Antrobus
Monica Dacon (Acting)
Frederick Ballantyne
Deputy Girlyn Miguel
Preceded by Arnhim Eustace
Leader of the Unity Labour Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 December 1998
Preceded by Vincent Beache
Personal details
Born 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 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]

Early life and education

Gonsalves was born in Colonarie, Saint Vincent, British Windward Islands to Theresa (née Francis) and Alban Gonsalves.[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 ULP. After the resignation of Vincent Beache, Gonsalves became leader of the party in 1998.[2] Gonsalves later led the ULP 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 marraige Camillo and Adam, and one by his second wife Storm, and two daughters, Isis and Soleil.[1] He fathered another child out of wedlock and the mother lived for the first year of the child's life in Canada until she was deported recently from Canada for being undocumented. While in Canada the mother and baby were financially supported by the Prime Minister.

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." Gonsalves never appeared before a court on the two separate charges brought against him. The charges were taken over and discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions [DDP]. The DPP did so within his constitutional powers to carry out an action what is called ‘Nolle prosequi’. a Latin legal phrase meaning "be unwilling to pursue", a phrase amounting to "do not prosecute". Therefore there was no court case and no judgment finding Gonsalves guilty or innocent. <ref name=<HCVAP 2008/003 In the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal> <http://www.eccourts.org/wp-content/files_mf/1385387339_magicfields_pdf_file_upload_1_1.pdf> <ref name="jamaicaobservercleared Profile, jamaicaobserver.com; accessed 1 September 2014.</ref>[7] The decision by the DPP to Nolle Prosequi the case was later upheld by a high court judge. Profile, caribbean360.com; accessed 1 September 2014.</ref>

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.[7]

Publications

Books

Pamphlets

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Profile, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Profile, caribbeanelections.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 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. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Profile, thestar.com; accessed 1 September 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Arnhim Eustace		 Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2001–present 		Incumbent