Between 1979 and 1994 Dr Gonsalves held leadership positions in the United People's Movement and the Movement for National Unity. From 1994 to 1998 he was Deputy Political Leader of the Unity Labour Party, serving as its leader from 1998 to the present. He was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of North Central Windward in 1994 and has held the seat since then. He was Leader of the Opposition from October 1999 until his election in March 2001.

Ralph E. Gonsalves, known affectionately as "Comrade Ralph",was born in a rural village at Colonarie, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on August 8, 1946 to his father, Alban Gonsalves (a farmer and small businessman, now deceased) and his mother, Theresa Francis (a small business woman). His foreparents came to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1845 as indentured servants from the Portuguese-ruled island of Madeira, some 300 kilometers off the north-west coast of Morocco in North West Africa. He is married to Eloise Gonsalves nee Harris, a Trinidadian of Dominican parentage, who is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill campus) in English and French and of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in Designing. Dr. Gonsalves is the father of five children (Camillo, Adam, Isis, Storm and Soleil), aged between 32 years and 9 years. He and his wife are practising Roman Catholics.

At University, Ralph Gonsalves participated fully in a range of activities including: student politics; public-speaking and debating; cricket; steelband (He was a tenor-pan player for the University steelband); and journalism for the student newspaper. During this time he was the recipient of many student awards, including "The Student of the Year Prize for 1969 at U.W.I. (Mona Campus)." He represented U.W.I. at the American Debating Championships; and he was elected President of the Guild of Undergraduates (the student body) at the same university. He was the first Vincentian student at U.W.I (Mona) to have been "Student of the Year", Championship Debater, and Guild President.

The Governor General

Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne is the Governor-General of St. Vincent and  the Grenadines. He has been in this office since 2^nd September 2002, and was knighted in November. He replaced Monica Dacon who had been interim Governor General after the death of Sir Charles Antrobus.

The Governor General, though the Queen’s representative, in the exercise of his executive powers, is required to act on the advice of the Prime Minister. He, however, holds office at Her Majesty’s pleasure. While the Governor General is seen as part of Parliament his presence is only there when he is invited though he is always informed of what takes place there. However, in order that any laws may be regarded as such it must receive the assent of the Governor General. He must also sign the Writs for the proroguing, dissolution or commencement of a new session of Parliament.

All officials of the House of Assembly are appointed by the Governor General.