In his inaugural address to the newly appointed Cabinet, Prime Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines issued a stern admonition to ministers against becoming disconnected from their electoral bases while immersed in governmental duties. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony at Arnos Vale, the Prime Minister emphasized that ministerial portfolios should not eclipse fundamental representative responsibilities.
Friday, whose New Democratic Party secured a decisive 14-1 electoral victory on November 27, ending the Unity Labour Party’s quarter-century governance, reminded colleagues that their political journeys originated through community electoral support. “They elected us, not as ministers, but as their representatives,” he stated, adding that forgetting this reality would be done “at our peril.”
The Prime Minister articulated a philosophy of accessible governance, urging ministers to maintain proximity to citizens: “Stay close to the people, be accessible, be attentive, be a friend before you are a minister.” He expressed profound gratitude for the public’s trust while acknowledging the humbling responsibility of leadership.
Friday, now serving his sixth term as Northern Grenadines representative, cautioned that high office should not create distance between representatives and constituents but rather enhance opportunities for positive impact. He framed constituent connection as essential for national improvement, asserting that democracy thrives when representatives adopt public concerns as their own priorities.
Describing a “new dawn” for the nation, the Prime Minister outlined aspirations spanning job creation, community safety, healthcare enhancement, youth opportunity, and elderly care. His administration’s approach emphasizes pragmatic continuity rather than wholesale transformation, committing to complete existing projects while implementing lessons from past experiences.
The Prime Minister concluded with theological reflections, quoting Isaiah 40:31 regarding renewed strength through hope. He characterized hope as an active virtue requiring courage and work, invoking the legacy of national hero Chatoyer to inspire collective effort toward national advancement.