Godwin Elliot Loraine Friday was sworn into office as St. Vincent and the Grenadines fifth prime minister since the country attained independence in 1979, promising to carry out his duty ‘for all the people of this country’.
Friday, 66, was sworn into office on Friday evening, by Governor General, Dame Susan Dougan, less than 24 hours after he led his New Democratic Party (NDP) to an historic 14-1 victory at the polls on Thursday and in the process ousted Dr. Ralph Gonsalve’s Unity Labour Party (ULP), which was seeking an unprecedented sixth consecutive term in office after first being elected in 2001.
‘It is my duty to do what I can to uplift living standards, moral values, hopes and expectations of our people, to enable each and everyone to dream and aspire to a better life in this country, and to not be prevented or obstructed from doing so by partisan politics, by unnecessary interference,’ Prime Minister Friday said.
He said this policy is necessary so that the entire population ‘may be able to achieve their very best for themselves, their family and for our country, for that is the only way that we are going to go forward’.