Newly inaugurated Prime Minister Godwin Friday has confirmed the imminent formation of his administration’s cabinet, with swearing-in ceremonies anticipated for Tuesday. This development follows the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) decisive electoral triumph, securing 14 of 15 parliamentary seats after a quarter-century in opposition.
The Prime Minister revealed that majority cabinet appointments have been finalized, though specifics remain undisclosed until formal notifications are delivered to designated ministers. Friday emphasized the deliberate selection process, noting the exceptional range of talent available within his parliamentary cohort following Thursday’s electoral sweep.
In a departure from constitutional conventions, only the Prime Minister took oath during Friday’s ceremony at Government House. Friday attributed this anomaly to unresolved technical considerations requiring additional resolution time, assuring full cabinet inauguration would proceed next week.
The administration is immediately engaging with critical governance structures, including police leadership and senior civil servants, to ensure seamless transition. Friday acknowledged ongoing celebratory activities among newly elected representatives but emphasized the urgency of convening parliamentary colleagues to establish governance priorities.
Addressing diplomatic attendance concerns, the Prime Minister characterized the minimal foreign representation at his inauguration as purely logistical, anticipating broader international participation during Tuesday’s comprehensive swearing-in event.
Geographic representation emerged as a significant theme, with Friday becoming the second Bequia-native to assume Vincentian leadership. While acknowledging regional pride, he stressed national unity across the archipelago, particularly highlighting development initiatives for historically neglected northern regions including North Leeward and North Windward.
The Prime Minister expressed profound gratitude for the electorate’s emphatic mandate—37,002 votes compared to the incumbent’s 27,148—interpreting the result as both validation of change demands and foundation for stable governance. This victory marks the NDP’s most significant achievement since its founding December 3, 1975, by former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell.