FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025
VOLUME 119, No. 44
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Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves rings the bell, symbolizing the announcement of the date for elections at the ULP Rally held on Tuesday at the Richmond Hill Paying Field by DAYLE DASILVA THE ELECTION BELL HAS TOLLED, and Vincentians will head to the poles on November 27. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Political Leader for the Unity Labour Party who will be seeking a sixth term in office made the muchanticipated announcement at a rally at the Richmond Hill playing field on October 28. Gonsalves took to the stage wearing a suit, as has been his traditional trait before announcing the date of General Elections. He said that he had previously made a motion for the convening of Parliament on October 29. “But as of now, immediately, there will be no Parliament tomorrow,” Gonsalves said. “You might be wondering what I am drinking, it ain’t Sunset Strong, it ain’t Appleton, it ain’t Captain Bligh or Demerara. This is home brew — ginger and lime and honey to fortify the vocal cords because in a short while, we are going to get ready to rumble,” he said minutes before making the announcement. According to Gonsalves, this was the ‘mother of all elections’ and that he had a series of
fundamental questions to ask the people so that they can give their best. “What kind of society are we striving for what image do we have of the society that we are seeking to build, what future do you want for you and your children? What you want to be in the next 15 years depends on what you do now,” he said. “It is now decision time for our free and democratic people, in free and fair elections for you to choose between the ULP and the NDP (New Democratic Party),” Gonsalves continued. He said that earlier on the said day, as is required under Section 48 of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he advised the Governor General, Dame Susan Dougan to dissolve Parliament with immediate effect. “Her Excellency has accepted her Prime Minister’s advice and has issued the necessary instrument, the proclamation to be published of the dissolution of Parliament. As of tonight, all consequential, constitutional and legal matters have been out in train for General Elections,” Gonsalves said. Dr. Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition and President of the NDP said that he and his team welcomed the news.
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Dr. Hon. Godwin Friday and his team welcomes this news. “The bell was finally rung, and of course we in the New Democratic Party, we were expecting this, we were hoping that the government would have called elections sooner,” Friday said during a press briefing on October 29. “Because the state of the country is such that we need to have a referendum on the performance of the present administration, an audit on the performance of government which comes at the highest level when citizens take up their pens and pencil and vote in a General Election, and this happens on November 27,” he continued. According to Friday, the NDP welcomed the news saying that they have been preparing for it in more ways than one. “We understand the great significance, the awesome responsibility that is required of us as political leaders, but also of the citizenry of this country,” he said. The impact of the upcoming General Elections will have an impact far greater, Friday said. “And so, it calls upon us all as citizens to take this solemn duty very, very seriously to prepare ourselves, to expose ourselves to the arguments and the plans and presentations of the NDP to prepare for the vote on November 27,” he said.