Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, and his wife Eloise, shortly after he voted in the general election Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Gonsalves' Unity Labour Party won a landslide victory, securing 12 of the 15 seats, for a second consecutive term in office. The opposition New Democratic Party retained three seats. - CONTRIBUTED
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC:
PRIME MINISTER Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was sworn-in yesterday morning for a second term, following Wednesday's general election which returned his Unity Labour Party (ULP) to power.
Dress in a dark suit, and wearing a red tie, Gonsalves took the oath of office administered by Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne in a 40-minute ceremony at Government House, on the outskirts of the capital.
The ceremony was attended by members of his family, successful and defeated ULP candidates and party supporters and well wishers. The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) was absent.
Sir Frederick congratulated Gonsalves and his party on the election victory and complimented all who took part in the electoral process, which he said proved that democracy was alive and well here.
However he said there was deep concern among forward thinking Vincentians about a deep divide caused by the political process, and he called on the prime minister to lead a process of healing in the country.
Speaking specifically to Gonsalves, he warned: "Never judge people by how they vote, judge people by their character."
READY TO PARTNER
Gonsalves gave the assurance that his government was ready to partner with the opposition to take the country forward.
However, he warned that there was a limit to "how many slaps you can take on your cheek" and told the Governor-General that the Opposition had to understand that "there is a government who governs and the Opposition does not govern."
Also taking the oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy were the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and trade, Louis Straker and the attorney-general, Judith Jones-Morgan.
The ULP maintained the 12 seats it held in the last parliament, and took 56 per cent of the votes cast, according to the preliminary results.
