SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico(AP) — St. Vincent and the Grenadines is preparing to welcome a new prime minister for the first time in 24 years after preliminary election results show that Godwin Friday of the New Democratic Party beat Ralph Gonsalves of the Unity Labor Party.

Gonsalves was first elected in March 2001, making him one of the world’s longest serving democratic leaders in recent history.

He was a staunch supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel .

Gonsalves’ party posted a brief statement on Facebook following Thursday’s election: “We love you, SVG, and we will keep working and advocating for you. This is not the end, it is the beginning.”

Friday’s moderate conservative party won 14 of the 15 constituencies in the eastern Caribb

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