POLITICAL CHESS IN THE CARIBBEAN: A Tale Of Two Exits

In my new book, "The Eastern Caribbean Political Power Playbook: 10 Strategies Behind PM Skerrit's Success," the final chapter ‘Quit While You're Ahead’ examines a fascinating Caribbean political strategy. The chapter details how Skerrit intends to write his own political ending, to control his exit from prime ministerial office. He rejects the involuntary exits – dying in office, civilian coups and general election defeat. While Commonwealth of Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (21 years in office) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (24 years) both dominate regional politics, their potential exits tell different stories.

Skerrit's playbook demonstrates masterful control: steadily increasing his parliamentary majority (15 seats in 2014, 18 in 2019, 19 in 2022), maintaining strong popular vote margins, and ensuring a feasible parliamentary majority above the critical 12-seat threshold. Meanwhile, Comrade Ralph's recent 14-1 electoral defeat on November 27, 2025, serves as a cautionary tale.

As we say in Dominica, "When your friend's beard catches fire, wet yours." The lessons? First, opposition parties can succeed without systemic upheaval (take note, Dominica Opposition). Second, never underestimate voters, the voter is ALWAYS right regardless of their socioeconomic background. The working class is the political elite in the Eastern Caribbean model. Third, assuming rather than confirming voter priorities is political suicide. Fourth, social programs that divide rather than unite communities ultimately backfire.

Yet, the November 27 election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines affirms something powerful: our Eastern Caribbean political model remains robust, effective, and democratically sound. The triumph of Eastern Caribbean democracy manifested in three distinct ways: first, a quarter-century incumbent regime peacefully ceded power; second, the transition unfolded with remarkable efficiency and civility, devoid of the chaos; and third - perhaps most significantly - the opposition secured victory by mastering the existing democratic framework rather than attempting to dismantle it.

Skerrit's strategic approach to choosing his exit - rather than having it chosen for him - might just be the masterclass in Caribbean political longevity that future leaders need to study.