Godwin Elliot Loraine Friday[3] (born 28 September 1959[citation needed]) is a Vincentian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2025 and as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2016. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Northern Grenadines constituency since 2001 and served as the leader of the opposition from 2016 to 2025.
Godwin Friday | |
|---|---|
 Friday in 2019 | |
| 5th Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | |
| Assumed office 28 November 2025 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Governor-General | Susan Dougan |
| Preceded by | Ralph Gonsalves |
| Leader of the New Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2016[1] | |
| Preceded by | Arnhim Eustace |
| Leader of the Opposition of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | |
| In office 21 November 2016[2] – 28 November 2025 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governors-General | Frederick Ballantyne Susan Dougan |
| Preceded by | Arnhim Eustace |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Gonsalves |
| Member of Parliament for the Northern Grenadines | |
| Assumed office 28 March 2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 September 1959[citation needed] |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Waterloo (BA, MA) Queen's University (LLB, PhD) |
| Website | http://ndpsvg.com |
In the 2001 general election, Friday was elected to the House of Assembly for the first time. He retained his seat in the 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025 elections.[4] In the 2025 general election, Friday's NDP defeated Ralph Gonsalves' long-governing Unity Labour Party, forming a supermajority government and becoming prime minister.
Early life and education
editHe was born on 28 September 1959 in Bequia,[citation needed] the second-largest island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the largest island of the Grenadines. Friday earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.[5] He graduated with a Master's degree in history from the University of Waterloo in 1985.[6] In 1989, he graduated with a doctorate in political studies from Queen's University.[7]
Political career
editIn 2016, Arnhim Eustace, the party leader and opposition leader of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, resigned, which left Friday with the position as party leader and leader of the opposition.[8][5][9] He led the party into the 2020 general election, winning the popular vote but losing 1 seat. At the 2025 general election, the NDP won 14 of 15 seats in the House of Assembly, forming government for the first time since 1998.[10]
Publications
edit- Islands in the Stream: The development of a machinery for the conduct of external affairs in the Bahamas and Bahamian foreign policy, 1973–1985 (MA Thesis, 1985)[6]
- The Caribbean Basin Initiative and industrial development in Trinidad and Tobago (1989)[11]
- A Political Economy of 'State Capitalism' in Trinidad and Tobago: social struggles and the development process (PhD Thesis, 1989)[7]
References
edit- ^ "NDP to elect new party Chair". Searchlight. 20 January 2017.
- ^ "Dr Friday pledges to do his best". Searchlight. 22 November 2016.
- ^ "2020 Elections Candidates" (PDF). Electoral Office.
- ^ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 2015". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
- ^ a b "Friday to be sworn in as Opposition Leader". iWitness News. 17 November 2016.
- ^ a b Friday, Godwin E. L. (1985). Islands in the stream: the development of a machinery for the conduct of external affairs in the Bahamas and Bahamian foreign policy 1973–1985 (MA). Waterloo, Ontario: University of Waterloo. OCLC 1086689041.
- ^ a b Friday, Godwin E. L. (1989). A political economy of 'State Capitalism' in Trinidad and Tobago : social struggles and the development process (PhD). Kingston, Ontario: Queen's University. OCLC 933179447.
- ^ "Dr. the Honourable Godwin L. Friday". New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- ^ "PM planning snap elections before petitions hearing?". iWitness News. 10 August 2017.
- ^ Coto, Danica (2025-11-28). "One of world's longest serving democratic leaders loses election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines". AP News. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
- ^ Friday, Godwin E. L. (1989). The Caribbean Basin Initiative and industrial development in Trinidad and Tobago. Donner Canadian Foundation Project on Sovereignty and Security. Kingston, Ontario: Group for the Study of National and International Development, Queen's University. OCLC 25148232.