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British Virgin Islands general election, 1999

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May 17, 1999 (1999-05-17)
  
2003 →

1999
  
1995

0 seats, 0.0%
  
6 seats, 32.1%

Turnout
  
65%

At-large
  
9th District

0
  
6

British Virgin Islands general election, 1999

The British Virgin Islands general election, 1999 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 17 May 1999. The result was a victory for the incumbent Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by Chief Minister Ralph T. O'Neal over the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Orlando Smith.

Contents

The election was largely notable for three reasons:

  • It was the first election in the Territory since 1954 in which Lavity Stoutt, a dominant political force in the British Virgin Islands did not participate;
  • It marked the emergence of the NDP, the first serious opposition to the VIP since the collapse of the United Party in the aftermath of Cyril Romney's resignation as Chief Minister in 1986; and
  • It was the first election in the British Virgin Islands where no independent candidates were elected.

    • Results

    The election was largely decided in three key seats: the Third District (which Julian Fraser carried for the VIP by 26 votes), the Sixth District (which Omar Hodge carried for the VIP by 12 votes) and the Eighth District (which Lloyd Black carried for the NDP by 11 votes, with the crucial Penn family votes being split between Andre (running as an independent) and David (running for the VIP) - most years a member of the Penn family wins the Eighth District). The At-large seats were split equally between the two main parties. Ethelyn Smith won the Fifth District for the minority party, the Concerned Citizens Movement, where the second placed candidate was former Chief Minister running as an independent, Cyril Romney.

    Although the overall vote count was flattering to the NDP this was because they polled well in the At-large seats (where each voter casts four votes). But most of the Territorial seats were not that competitive, with the VIP winning some seats with huge majorities, the largest being Alvin Christopher's thumping 80.2% of the vote in the Second District. Conversely, Julian Fraser won his seat in the Third District with the smallest mandate of any candidate - just 228 votes in a three way contest with a low voter turnout.

    Notable candidates who were elected to the Legislature for the first time included future Chief Minister and Premier, Orlando Smith; future Deputy Premier and Minister Kedrick Pickering; future Minister Andrew Fahie; and future Minister and Leader of the Opposition Julian Fraser. Conversely, Walwyn Brewley suffered the first electoral defeat of his career, and would thereafter choose to end his political career at this point.

    Individual territorial seats

    First Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,140 Total number of votes cast: 687 Percentage of voters who voted: 60.2%

    Second Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,023 Total number of votes cast: 603 Percentage of voters who voted: 58.9%

    Third Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 914 Total number of votes cast: 594 Percentage of voters who voted: 65.0%

    Fourth Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,091 Total number of votes cast: 728 Percentage of voters who voted: 66.7%

    Fifth Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,202 Total number of votes cast: 733 Percentage of voters who voted: 61.0%

    Sixth Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,174 Total number of votes cast: 809 Percentage of voters who voted: 68.9%

    Seventh Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 812 Total number of votes cast: 586 Percentage of voters who voted: 72.2%

    Eighth Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 928 Total number of votes cast: 683 Percentage of voters who voted: 73.6%

    Ninth Electoral District

    Total number of registered voters: 1,239 Total number of votes cast: 931 Percentage of voters who voted: 75.1%

    At-large seats

    Territorial At-Large Electoral District

    Total ballots cast: 6,145 Total rejected ballots: 76 Total votes rejected: 4 Total valid votes: 23,927 Total votes counted: 23,931 Total registered voters: 9,523 Percentage turnout: 64.53%

    References

    British Virgin Islands general election, 1999 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA