Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. - FILE
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC:
THE RULING Unity Labour Party (ULP) was returned to power in general elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday, winning by the same margin as it did in 2000, according to preliminary results announced here.
The ULP won 12 of the 15 seats contested in the elections, while the New Democratic Party (NDP) was able to retain three seats, including two in its traditional stronghold of the Grenadines and the East Kingstown constituency, where its leader, Arnhim Eustace, staved off a strong challenge from the ULP candidate and campaign manager Julian Francis.
Preliminary results showed that Eustace won by 146 votes, after Francis polled 2,019 to his 2,165.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who was expected to deliver an address to the nation last night, comfortably retained his seat, brushing aside the challenge of Cameron Balcombe.
The small SVG Green Party, which had contested four of the constituencies, failed to win any seat, with its candidates losing their deposits.
The NDP has not yet conceded defeat. The party received 44 per cent of the popular vote, while the ULP received 56 per cent.
Regional pollster Peter Wickham of Barbados said there had been a moderate swing towards the NDP, which in 2000 had received 41 per cent of the popular votes. But the swing was not enough to alter the outcome of the elections.
