Grenadian general election, 1961
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Grenada
on 27 March 1961. Eric Gairy
's Grenada United Labour Party
won eight of the ten seats, his wife Cynthia Gairy becoming the first woman to be elected to the legislature. George E.D. Clyne of GULP became Chief Minister and served from March to August 1961 when, following the direct intervention of the British government, Gairy's political ban was lifted early, and Clyne resigned allowing Gairy to return in a by-election and become Chief Minister. Voter turnout was 55.5%.
and those from the majority party in the Legislative Council. Herbert Blaize
was appointed the first Chief Minister from 1 January 1960 when the Legislative Council provisions took effect. The Constitution stipulated that at the next election the Legislature would consist of ten elected members and two nominated members. The Queen was represented by an Administrator with reduced powers. Grenada's Administrator at this time was James Lloyd
, a Jamaican.
Gairy, the leader of GULP, had been banned from political activity for five years for disrupting an opponent's political meeting on 28 October 1957, by leading a steel band through it. He was not eligible to be a candidate in 1961. Administrator James Lloyd
would not raise the ban early.
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
on 27 March 1961. Eric Gairy
Eric Gairy
Sir Eric Matthew Gairy was the first Prime Minister of Grenada, serving from Grenada`s independence in 1974 until his overthrow in a coup by Maurice Bishop in 1979...
's Grenada United Labour Party
Grenada United Labour Party
-History:The party was founded by Eric Gairy in 1950. It was the only party to contest the first elections held under universal suffrage in 1951, and won six of the eight seats. The 1954 elections saw the same outcome...
won eight of the ten seats, his wife Cynthia Gairy becoming the first woman to be elected to the legislature. George E.D. Clyne of GULP became Chief Minister and served from March to August 1961 when, following the direct intervention of the British government, Gairy's political ban was lifted early, and Clyne resigned allowing Gairy to return in a by-election and become Chief Minister. Voter turnout was 55.5%.
Background
Following the introduction of the new Constitution on 21 December 1959 real authority for governing the country was given to a Chief MinisterChief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
and those from the majority party in the Legislative Council. Herbert Blaize
Herbert Blaize
Herbert Augustus Blaize was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960-61, and again, from 1962-67. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly...
was appointed the first Chief Minister from 1 January 1960 when the Legislative Council provisions took effect. The Constitution stipulated that at the next election the Legislature would consist of ten elected members and two nominated members. The Queen was represented by an Administrator with reduced powers. Grenada's Administrator at this time was James Lloyd
James Lloyd
James Lloyd may refer to:*James Lloyd , U.S. Senator*James Lloyd , U.S. Senator*James Lloyd , convict transported to Western Australia...
, a Jamaican.
Gairy, the leader of GULP, had been banned from political activity for five years for disrupting an opponent's political meeting on 28 October 1957, by leading a steel band through it. He was not eligible to be a candidate in 1961. Administrator James Lloyd
James Lloyd
James Lloyd may refer to:*James Lloyd , U.S. Senator*James Lloyd , U.S. Senator*James Lloyd , convict transported to Western Australia...
would not raise the ban early.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenada United Labour Party Grenada United Labour Party -History:The party was founded by Eric Gairy in 1950. It was the only party to contest the first elections held under universal suffrage in 1951, and won six of the eight seats. The 1954 elections saw the same outcome... |
11,606 | 53.3 | 8 | |
| Grenada National Party Grenada National Party -History:The party was founded in 1955 and took its support from the urban middle class and landowners. It first contested national elections in 1957 when it won two of the eight seats, tied with the Grenada United Labour Party and the People's Democratic Movement. Its leader Herbert Blaize became... |
7,325 | 33.7 | 2 | 0 |
| PPM | 2,394 | 11.0 | 0 | New |
| Independents | 435 | 2.0 | 0 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,041 | |||
| Total | 22,803 | 100 | 10 | +2 |
| Source: Nohlen | ||||