North Central Windward celebrates milestone with Dr Ralph Gonsalves as MP

Glowing tributes were paid to Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves at the South Rivers Methodist School on Tuesday February, 20, one day before he celebrated 30 years as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of North Central Windward.

Dr Gonsalves was first elected to represent the constituency on February 21, 1994.

At the function on Tuesday, students presented the prime minister with cards they had made for him.

Primary school students at the function to honour Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves for his 30 years of representing the constituency of North Central Windward.

He also received plaques and other tokens from community groups.

Reflecting on Dr Gonsalves’ work in North Central Windward, St Clair Da Santos described him as “a great leader.”

Da Santos who is the principal of the North Union Secondary School praised Dr Gonsalves for the education revolution.

This he said, provides an opportunity where “each student can find a niche market for their particular aptitude, putting an end to the failure syndrome.”

“Never before had we seen so many persons from South Rivers going to secondary school, pre school, university and college,” the well known educator added.

He said over the years, Dr Gonsalves has represented his constituency with “humility and selflessness.”

Persons in the constituency also praised Dr Gonsalves for his dedicated service for the past three decades.

In his response, Dr Gonsalves expressed thanks to those responsible for putting the event together.

“This is an entire surprise to me,” he said, explaining the he had planned to visit schools in his constituency on Tuesday, but had not known of that particular event.

Principal of the South Rivers Methodist School Sherene Wilkinson and students presenting gift to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Dr Gonsalves spoke about having a bond with the people whom he represents, a bond he said that is cemented by love.

As part of his 30th anniversary celebrations, Dr Gonsalves contributed $3,000 to schools in North Central Windward and paid visits to those learning institutions.

Dr Gonsalves, leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP), has also been a political activist for 56 years and prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines for the past 23 years.