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. 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. 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.
Gonsavles has been married twice currently he is married to Eloise
Harris. He has two sons by his first marriage Camillo and Adam, and one
by his second wife Storm, and two daughters, Isis and Soleil.
Member of Parliament for East Kingstown and Leader of the Opposition. Shadow Minister of Finance, the Public Service, Economic Development and National Security
With a Master’s Degree in Economics, Arnhim Eustace the leader of the
New Democratic Party also has a lengthy record of international
service. In 1977 he Joined the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) as
Administrative Officer. In 1983 he was promoted to Senior Manager,
Project Services – responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s
Technical Assistance Programme of some US $4m per year. In 1985 he
returned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on secondment from the Bank
as Director of Finance and Planning, in the then new, NDP Government. ACHIEVEMENTS: He led and coordinated changes to the Government financial system
that have contributed to stability of Government finances and the
current account surplus achieved every year since 1985 to 2001. In 1993 Eustace resigned from the Bank and assumed duties as Fiscal
Adviser to the Ministry of Finance. He was also assigned to play a lead
role in the revival of the Banana Industry. 1995 – 1998 Eustace was
Chairman of the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting
Company Limited (WIBDECO). The Company was charged with the
restructuring of the Windward Islands Banana Industry, leading the way
for the promotion of improved competitiveness in the Industry. 1996 – 1998 Eustace was Chairman of the Joint Venture Holding
Companies. He was integral in developments that led to Windwards
Islands’ ownership of the production, shipping, ripening, marketing and
distribution of bananas after nearly 50 years as mere producers. 1996 – 1998 Eustace was Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme
(NIS). Leading the restructure and improvement of its performance and
financial soundness. 1996 – 1998 Eustace was Government Director on the Board of the East
Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), the primary manufacturing facility
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and serving the OECS region. 1998 – Oct. 2000 Eustace was appointed Minister of Finance and the
Public Service after being successful at the polls in the 1998 General
Elections. In October 2000 he was appointed Prime Minister of St. Vincent and
the Grenadines after James Fitz-Allen Mitchell retired. He served as
Prime Minister for five months, until the New Democratic Party lost the
2001 elections. He was then appointed Leader of the Opposition in the
House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Since 1998, Arnhim has been the Parliamentary Representative for the East Kingstown Constituency He has been responsible for constitutional reform within the NDP,
widening the process for selection of candidates to be determined by not
only executive members of the party but to include delegates to
convention, central committee, youth arm and women’s arm
representatives. INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS
Gardening, Farming, Cricket
FAMILY LIFE:
Married to Jennifer with two children Maia and Ajene.
THE BELL RANG AND ELECTIONS DAY IN SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES IS DECEMBER 9, 2015
WHO WILL IT BE ON ELECTIONS DAY??? Facebook is never a dull moment when it comes to POLITICS in SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. God expects us to go to the polls to elect the government that is best suited to represent our country for the next five years. As a citizen of this island I proudly endorse CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION, part of which is the right to exercise our franchise at the polls come December 9, 2015.
As I perused my Facebook newsfeed my heart sunk deep into the pit of my stomach when I saw posts made by some of my friends which seem to proliferate sheer NEGATIVE AND UNPATRIOTIC BAHAVIOUR that sought to drag the TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES into the gutters with a plethora of MUD SLAYINGS. My fellow Vincentians this is uncalled for. If there is a time in which we must come together and unite as a nation it is now! I expect us to ACT IN WAYS WHICH EXHIBIT AN EDUCATED AND CRITICAL THINKING MENTALITY. We are definitely showcasing SVG to the world in a rather NEGATIVE LIGHT here on the INTERNET! THIS ENERGY IS USELESS AND UNPRODUCTIVE.
LEADERS OF THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES
A VIEW OF ULP RALLY The Unity Labour Party under the leadership of Dr. Honouable Ralph E. Gonsalves has been in office in the capacity as government for the past 3 terms now. Congratulations to this team for their contribution to the growth and development of SVG.
The Opposition Party spearheaded by Honourable Arnhim Eustace has also held this position for the same length of time. To them I also say CONGRATULATIONS.
A VIEW OF NDP RALLY Common sense says we need both sides of the coin (government and opposition) if we are to maintain our DEMOCRATIC PRIDE as a people. Gone are the days when one party ruled all of the seats in the HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT as this tend to lead to tyranny and a mistreat of the public property that we the populace entrusted to them. NDP
ULP CANDIDATES
I urge my fellow people to LISTEN ATTENTIVELY WITH A CRITICAL MIND to HEAR WHICH PARTY TRULY HAS SVG'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART. Please watch out for the VAIN AND EMPTY POLITICAL PROMISES THAT ARE UNATTAINABLE.
The race is on for your VOTES do not be DUPED. God gave you a brain to THINK FOR YOURSELVES AS YOU CAREFULLY WEIGH BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE TO SEE WHICH ONE IS WORTHY TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES!
I wish all parties the very best. May God Jehovah choose the right one to lead our country!
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you DR. Rose-Ann Jasmine Smith our own VINCENTIAN from MARRIAQUA (MESPO) VALLEY.
Dr. Smith hails from lil La Croix a village that shares borders with my village of birth Evesham. Jasmine is from humble beginnings. I have known her as a child coming to the "STAND PIPE" at GREEN CORNER GROCERIES filling up her water jugs and climbing those steep hills to where she domiciled as a child.
I have met her on Facbook in 2010, if my memory serves me right, and I must say I saw her soul wide open vicariously through her daily posts and I have been truly inspired by her story and life. I would peruse her BLOG POSTS and her struggles with FIBROID resonated with me as I suffered similar illness during my early years. SHE INSPIRED ME TO START MY OWN BLOG on BLOGSPOT.COM. without even knowing. Suffice it to say I feel indebted to her to share in the celebration of this OUT STANDING ACHIEVEMENT as a GRADUATE with a DOCTORATE DEGREE (The highest in the ACADEMIC & SCHOLASTIC RANKS).
In spite of having accessed the HIGHEST SCHOLASTIC & ACADEMIC echelon of SUCCESS Dr. Smith EXTREMELY HUMBLE as she CREDITS JEHOVAH GOD. HER DEAR HUSBAND MR. SMITH PROUDLY SUPPORTS HIS BEAUTIFUL AMBITIOUS WIFE
Jasmine is an APRIL BORN (MY TAURUS SIGN) and from what I know we have a penchant for hard work and success. MIRACLE BABY GABBY PROUDLY CHEERS HER MAMA ON
THE VINCENTIAN MEDIA PROUDLY CELEBRATES THEIR DAUGHTER!
THIS ISLAND IS MINE
JASMINE'S TESTIMONY OF HOW SHE GOT TO THIS PRECIOUS MOMENT OF HER LIFEBreadFruit News
"HUMBLY, I ROSE FROM POVERTY TO DOCTORATE Meet Vincentian, DR. Rose-Ann Smith from the Mespotamia area. I stood in the audience on my graduation day and for the first
time, my eyes welled up with tears as the whole auditorium applauded
and shouted words of congratulations to persons they did not know or
might not have seen before. For the first time, it was impressed upon me
the meaning and size of my accomplishment. I am Dr. Rose-Ann Smith. I
never thought that I would have gotten this far, but I had to for
myself and my family. I wish to share my story to you and really do hope
that it will encourage someone to press towards their dreams.
I grew up in the small village of La Croix in Mesopotamia Valley in a
home to a father who was an alcoholic, but a good father to us. His last
name is Diamond, but it in no way suggests 'riches'. After all, my
memories served to remind me of the one bedroom house in which myself
and brothers grew up with the outdoor wattle and daub kitchen and
outside bathroom and toilet, otherwise called a latrine. Later, that
home became a two bedroom and we had what was called a 'hall'. I later
learnt that the proper name for it was a living room, but then it would
seem that only the rich had living room and country people who were
mostly poor, had a hall. We did not have light or water so we had to
'droge' water from a stand pipe and a kerosene lamp, candles or a flambo
served as light in the night. My mom sold food crops in the market,
then she worked at a hotel to clean rooms and make up bed and later as a
cook. My life was simple, but for most parts I was contented and
outside of the impact of the alcohol that my father drank regularly, I
believe that we were happy. When I looked at my family, I saw and
felt the struggle. There were single parents finding it hard to support
their kids, but they tried. I saw alcoholics, gamblers, ganja smokers
etc etc. Some viewed us as thieves but for most, we were poor people who
will not amount to nothing. It appeared as if all our parents and
grandparents were uneducated. However, when I listened to stories about
my family, I realized that we weren't dumb. Instead, poverty had
prevented all our parents from reaching beyond primary school. Sometimes
they had to stay away from school to work on the farm or only go to
school half day. Roast grindy and sugar water was breakfast or lunch for
some. I looked and see how the impact of being poor was trickling down
to my cousins. They were dropping out of school. They lack motivation
and drive and who can be motivated on a hungry belly. I remembered
seeing family members eating boiled banana and butter for lunch/dinner
because that was all that can be afforded. I never went hungry, but I
remember having to borrow money to buy chicken or to go to school. When I
heard people saying, even today, they do not eat chicken back, I do not
comment. Rather, I can only thank God for the little protein I got from
it growing up, and reminisced on how sweet it was in pelau or stewed
down with some roast breadfruit. Yes, chicken back was dog food for
some, but it was quite a popular meat in our house. Will I eat it again?
Of course and proudly too. Today, I look at my family and I am
proud. Our past is not our present. I am proud because a generation rose
up that wanted something different and we were supported by a family
who wanted differently for their kids. I am proud of those who learnt a
skill even though they did not get their subjects. I am proud of those
who finished with their many subjects and who decide to rise beyond. I
am proud to be the first to attend university and the first Doctor of
Philosophy in my family, to witness the first Attorney-at-law in my
family, Saskia Diamond. I am proud to have my cousin Dominique George
studying medicine and a brother doing his bachelors in Social Studies
Education. I am proud to see both of my brothers becoming great
musicians. I still get goosebumps when my younger brother, Brent
Williams sings and I am amazed at his lyrical skills. They never went to
a music school, but taught themselves to play many instruments. I am
proud of the police officers, pastors, coast guard workers, government
workers, carpenters, masons etc etc. But most of all, I am proud because
when I looked at the crop of us who succeed and is succeeding, I
realized that we have all put God first. Let us continue to pave the way
of success for our family. Dream BIG!!! Let us not pull down or look
down on another, but let us motivate each other. Let us not be selfish
in our acts, but live lovingly with each other, edifying our brothers
and sisters above ourselves. Let us continue to pray for each other,
especially the younger ones who are just getting started in daycare and
primary school. Remember always the distance from whence we came and in
every thing, let us give thanks to the Most High God. We are Diamonds,
Williams and Catos and We are out to make a difference for our families
and with our families."
The owner of this BLOG is truly proud of her and wishes her and her beautiful family all of the very best in her future endeavours.
