Ralph Gonsalves
Encyclopedia
Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946), also known as "Comrade Ralph", is the fourth and current Prime Minister
of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
, and leader of the Unity Labour Party
(ULP). Gonsalves 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
.
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.
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 wining 8 seats.
, Saint Vincent
, British Windward Islands
to Theresa (née Francis) and Alban Gonsalves. He attended Colonarie Roman Catholic School, and later the St Vincent Boys' 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.
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. Gonsalves later led the ULP to win the 2001 general election, becoming prime minister. Gonsalves' 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.
In 2009 Gonsalves and the ULP led a referendum campaign in favour of constitutional reform that would have abolished the country's constitutional monarchy
, replacing Elizabeth II with a non-executive president
. The referendum was defeated, with 55.64% of voters rejecting the changes.
.
Gonsalves has written and published on a range of matters including the Caribbean
, Africa
, trade unionism, comparative political economy, and developmental issues generally.
, Adam and Storm, and two daughters, Isis and Soleil.
Williams' decision was later upheld by a high court
judge.
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. Gonsalves categorically denied the accusations.
Books
Pamphlets
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
, and leader of the Unity Labour Party
Unity Labour Party
The Unity Labour Party is a democratic socialist political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Currently the governing party, it is led by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.-History:...
(ULP). Gonsalves became Prime Minister after his party won a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
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
Movement for National Unity
The Movement for National Unity was a political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was formed shortly before the 1984 general elections by a split from the United People's Movement due to the refusal of most party members to disown Fidel Castro's politics. The new party received 2.0% of...
.
Gonsalves has been Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the constituency
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
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.
Gonsalves' ULP won another majority government in 2005 general election, winning 12 seats.
On 13 December 2010, Gonsalves' ULP was re-elected
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines general election, 2010
Parliamentary elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 13 December 2010. The date of these elections was announced at the Calliaqua Playing Field by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on 14 November 2010. It was also announced that parliament would be dissolved on 15 November and...
, showing a decrease in the popular vote and wining 8 seats.
Early life and education
Gonsalves was born in ColonarieColonarie
Colonarie is a town in the east of the island of Saint Vincent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It stands on the banks of the Colonarie River five kilometres to the south of Georgetown....
, Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, British Windward Islands
British Windward Islands
The British Windward Islands was a British colony existing between 1833 and 1960 and consisting of the islands of Grenada, St Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Barbados , Tobago , and Dominica, previously included in the...
to Theresa (née Francis) and Alban Gonsalves. He attended Colonarie Roman Catholic School, and later the St Vincent Boys' Grammar School. Gonsalves then enrolled at the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
, where he completed a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. He later returned there to earn a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, which he completed in 1971. In 1974 he completed a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in government at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. Gonsalves was called to the degree of utter barrister
Junior barrister
A junior barrister is a barrister who has not yet attained the rank of Queen's Counsel. Although the term is archaic and not commonly used, junior barristers can also be referred to as utter barristers derived from "outer barristers" or barristers of the outer bar, in distinction to Queen's...
at Gray’s Inn in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1981.
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 Gonsalves led a student protest of the deportation of historian and intellectual Walter RodneyWalter Rodney
Walter Rodney was a prominent Guyanese historian and political activist, who was assassinated in Guyana in 1980.-Career:...
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. Gonsalves later led the ULP to win the 2001 general election, becoming prime minister. Gonsalves' ULP was re-elected in the 2005 general election. In the 2010 general election
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines general election, 2010
Parliamentary elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 13 December 2010. The date of these elections was announced at the Calliaqua Playing Field by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on 14 November 2010. It was also announced that parliament would be dissolved on 15 November and...
, Gonsalves and the ULP were narrowly re-elected with 51.11% of the popular vote.
In 2009 Gonsalves and the ULP led a referendum campaign in favour of constitutional reform that would have abolished the country's constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
, replacing Elizabeth II with a non-executive president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
. The referendum was defeated, with 55.64% of voters rejecting the changes.
Outside politics
Gonsalves practices law before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtEastern Caribbean Supreme Court
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is a superior Court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British...
.
Gonsalves has written and published on a range of matters including the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, trade unionism, comparative political economy, and developmental issues generally.
Personal life
Gonsavles is married to Eloise Harris. He has three sons, CamilloCamillo Gonsalves
Camillo Gonsalves is a Vincentian diplomat and lawyer. He is Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' current Permanent Representative to the United Nations.He studied and initially worked in the United States...
, Adam and Storm, and two daughters, Isis and Soleil.
Allegations of sexual misconduct
In February 2008 a policewoman raised allegations that earlier that year she was sexually assaulted by Gonsalves. Gonsalves denied the allegations, characterising them as "political manipulation". Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Director of Public Prosecutions did not prosecute of the case, saying "the claim was determined to be groundless and lacked medical or genetic evidence."Williams' decision was later upheld by a high court
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is a superior Court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British...
judge.
In May 2008 the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
reported human rights lawyer Margaret Parsons alleged that Gonsalves assaulted her and attempted to have sex with her five years earlier. Gonsalves categorically denied the accusations.
Publications
(adapted from http://www.books.ai/7th/Glu-Gor.htm)Books
- Diary of a Prime Minister: Ten days among Benedictine Monks
- The Making of 'the Comrade': The Political Journey of Ralph Gonsalves
- The spectre of imperialismImperialismImperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
: the case of the CaribbeanCaribbeanThe Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
(University of the West IndiesUniversity of the West IndiesThe University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
; 128 pages, 1976) - The non-capitalistCapitalismCapitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
path of development: AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Caribbean (One Caribbean Publishers; 1981) - History and the future: a Caribbean perspective (169 pages, 1994)
- Notes on some basic ideas in Marxism-LeninismMarxism-LeninismMarxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
(University of the West Indies; 56 pages)
Pamphlets
- The RodneyWalter RodneyWalter Rodney was a prominent Guyanese historian and political activist, who was assassinated in Guyana in 1980.-Career:...
affair and its aftermath (University of the West Indies; 21 pages, 1975) - The development and class character of the bourgeois state: the case of St. Vincent (University of the West Indies; 15 pages, 1976)
- Controls and influences on the civil serviceCivil serviceThe term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
and statutory bodies in the CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Caribbean: a preliminary discussion (University of the West Indies; 67 pages, 1977) - The development of the labour movementLabour movementThe term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
in St. Vincent (37 pages, 1977) - Who killed sugarSugarSugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
in St. Vincent? (United Liberation Movement; 21 pages, 1977) - On the political economyPolitical economyPolitical economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
of BarbadosBarbadosBarbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
(One Caribbean Publishers; 49 pages, 1981) - The trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Movement for National UnityMovement for National UnityThe Movement for National Unity was a political party in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was formed shortly before the 1984 general elections by a split from the United People's Movement due to the refusal of most party members to disown Fidel Castro's politics. The new party received 2.0% of...
; 64 pages, 1983) - Ebenezer JoshuaEbenezer JoshuaEbenezer Theodore Joshua was a Vincentian politician and the first chief minister of Saint Vincent from 1956 to 1967.-Early life and career:...
: his ideologyIdeologyAn ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
and style (Movement for National Unity; 39 pages, 1984) - (editor) The trial of George McIntosh (Caribbean Diaspora Press; 80 pages, 1985)
- Authority in the police force: its uses and abuses (Movement for National Unity; 45 pages, 1986)
- BananaBananaBanana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
in trouble: its present and future (Movement for National Unity; 22 pages, 1989)