Here’s a full list and breakdown of the major rulers in the history of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from indigenous leaders to colonial governors and modern political leaders:
1. Indigenous Rulers
Joseph Chatoyer (also called Satuye) – National Hero
- Title: Paramount Chief (often referred to as “King” of the Black Caribs)
- Era: Late 1700s (died in 1795)
- Role:
- Led the Black Caribs (Garifuna) in armed resistance against British colonization
- Fought in the First Carib War (1772–1773) and Second Carib War (1795–1797)
- Killed in battle in 1795 on Dorsetshire Hill
- Declared SVG’s first National Hero on March 14 (celebrated as National Heroes Day)
2. British Colonial Rulers (1763–1979)
Saint Vincent was ruled by Britain as a colony from the Treaty of Paris (1763) until independence in 1979. The island was governed by:
Governors and Administrator-Generals
Some key names include:
| Name | Position | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Melville | First British governor | 1763 |
| William Leyborne Leyborne | Governor | Late 1700s |
| Sir Henry G. Berkeley | Administrator | 1850s |
| Sir Walter J. Sendall | Administrator (Windward Isl.) | 1880s |
| Sir Rupert Briercliffe | Administrator | 1950s |
| Sir Rupert Godfrey John | Last British-appointed Gov. | Early 1970s |
- The island was often part of the British Windward Islands colony, governed jointly with Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Dominica.
3. Post-Independence Leaders (1979–Present)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence on October 27, 1979. Since then, it has had both Governors-General (representing the monarch) and Prime Ministers.
Governors-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Sir Sydney Gun-Munro | 1979–1985 |
| Sir Joseph Lambert Eustace | 1985–1988 (acting) |
| Sir David Emmanuel Jack | 1989–1996 |
| Sir Charles Antrobus | 1996–2002 |
| Monica Dacon (acting) | 2002 |
| Sir Frederick Ballantyne | 2002–2019 |
| Susan Dougan (first female) | 2019–present |
Prime Ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| Name | Political Party | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Milton Cato | Labour Party (SVLP) | 1979–1984 (1st PM) |
| James Mitchell | New Democratic Party (NDP) | 1984–2000 |
| Arnhim Eustace | New Democratic Party (NDP) | 2000 (short term) |
| Dr. Ralph Gonsalves | Unity Labour Party (ULP) | 2001–present (longest-serving PM) |
Dr. Gonsalves is one of the longest-serving heads of government in the Caribbean and has won multiple elections.
Summary
| Era | Major Rulers |
|---|---|
| Pre-Colonial | Joseph Chatoyer – Garifuna resistance leader |
| Colonial | British governors (e.g., Melville, Sendall) |
| Post-Independence | PMs: Cato, Mitchell, Gonsalves |
| Governors-General: Gun-Munro to Dougan |
