Former St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has dropped to 17th place in the 2026 Caribbean Global Awards (CGA) People’s Choice Leaders rankings, after previously reaching second position in the regional poll.
The latest rankings, published on the Caribbean Global Awards website, reflect what organizers described as an expanded diaspora and global leadership list, widening the field beyond Caribbean political figures to include internationally recognized personalities from sport, entertainment and public life.
Dr Gonsalves had ranked second in the 2025 edition of the awards, behind former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and ahead of regional leaders including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Jamaica’s Andrew Holness.
However, the 2026 list places the veteran Vincentian politician at number 17, between Trinidad and Tobago opposition figure Penny Beckles-Robinson and President Christine Kangaloo.
The shift marks a notable change in Dr Gonsalves’ standing over the past three years.
In 2024, he was ranked sixth among Caribbean leaders before climbing to second place in 2025, during a period when he remained highly visible in regional diplomacy and CARICOM affairs.
The latest rankings come after a major political transition in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where Dr Gonsalves left office following the 2025 general election, having served as prime minister since 2001.
Regional reports indicate that the broadened 2026 rankings included a wider range of international diaspora personalities, including Barbadian singer Rihanna, footballer Mohamed Salah, and actor Idris Elba.
The Caribbean Global Awards rankings are largely determined through public and diaspora voting, with organizers describing the process as a reflection of visibility, influence and engagement within Caribbean communities abroad.
Observers say the broader scope of the 2026 awards may have reduced the prominence traditionally enjoyed by Caribbean political leaders in earlier editions.
The awards have gained increasing regional attention in recent years, particularly among Caribbean diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, where online voting has played a major role in determining placements. The 2025 ceremony was held at the Cumberland Hotel in London.
Source: Caribbean Global Awards