Grenadian general election, 1999
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Grenada
on 18 January 1999. The governing New National Party
of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell
was re-elected after winning all 15 seats. Voter turnout was 56.5%.
saw the then governing National Democratic Congress
defeated by the New National Party, which won 8 of the 15 seats. However the New National Party lost their majority in late 1998 after the Foreign Minister
Raphael Fletcher was one of 2 ministers to quit the party accusing the government of corruption. As a result Parliament
was dissolved 18 months before the end of its term on 2 December 1998, and on the 14 December the election date of 18 January was announced.
48 candidates stood in the election, including 2 independents
, for the 15 seats which were elected by first-past-the-post
. Candidates included a full 15 candidates from the New National Party, 12 from the National Democratic Congress and 9 from the Grenada United Labour Party
.
.
Meanwhile the opposition, comprising a loose alliance between the National Democratic Congress and the Grenada United Labour Party, attacked the government for corruption. They alleged that there had been issues with the awarding of contracts and that the Prime Minister had been involved with foreign investors with shady backgrounds. The opposition also said the government was not doing enough for health care, and they in particular attacked a decision to build a stadium instead of a hospital. However the opposition suffered divisions, with disagreement between the two opposition parties over who should become Prime Minister if they won the election.
Northwest with 89% of the vote. This was only the second time a government had been re-elected in Grenada and the first since 1974.
The government's record in attracting investment and increasing economic growth was seen as having gained support for the New National Party, while the opposition said that the six week campaign had been too short for them to prepare for the election. Election monitors
from the Organisation of American States observed the election and said that it had been "free and fair".
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 18 January 1999. The governing New National Party
New National Party (Grenada)
The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell
Keith Mitchell
Keith Claudius Mitchell is a Grenadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister...
was re-elected after winning all 15 seats. Voter turnout was 56.5%.
Background
The last election in 1995Grenadian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Grenada on 20 June 1995. The result was a victory for the New National Party, which won eight of the 15 seats. Voter turnout was 61.7%.-Results:...
saw the then governing National Democratic Congress
National Democratic Congress (Grenada)
The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
defeated by the New National Party, which won 8 of the 15 seats. However the New National Party lost their majority in late 1998 after the Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
Raphael Fletcher was one of 2 ministers to quit the party accusing the government of corruption. As a result Parliament
Parliament of Grenada
The Parliament of Grenada is composed of the Monarch and two chambers:*The House of Representatives has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.*The Senate has 13 appointed members....
was dissolved 18 months before the end of its term on 2 December 1998, and on the 14 December the election date of 18 January was announced.
48 candidates stood in the election, including 2 independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, for the 15 seats which were elected by first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
. Candidates included a full 15 candidates from the New National Party, 12 from the National Democratic Congress and 9 from the 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...
.
Campaign
The governing New National Party of Kevin Mitchell campaigned on pledges to preserve stability and bring about economic growth. Mitchell said that his government would create jobs by increased spending on infrastructure and by attracting foreign investmentForeign direct investment
Foreign direct investment or foreign investment refers to the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.. It is the sum of equity capital,other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in...
.
Meanwhile the opposition, comprising a loose alliance between the National Democratic Congress and the Grenada United Labour Party, attacked the government for corruption. They alleged that there had been issues with the awarding of contracts and that the Prime Minister had been involved with foreign investors with shady backgrounds. The opposition also said the government was not doing enough for health care, and they in particular attacked a decision to build a stadium instead of a hospital. However the opposition suffered divisions, with disagreement between the two opposition parties over who should become Prime Minister if they won the election.
Results
The results saw the governing New National Party re-elected after winning all 15 seats contested. Among the victorious candidates for the governing party was the Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, who won his own seat of St George'sSt. George's, Grenada
St. George's, population 89,018 , with an agglomeration of 4,500 people , is the capital of Grenada, . The city is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is on a horseshoe-shaped harbor....
Northwest with 89% of the vote. This was only the second time a government had been re-elected in Grenada and the first since 1974.
The government's record in attracting investment and increasing economic growth was seen as having gained support for the New National Party, while the opposition said that the six week campaign had been too short for them to prepare for the election. Election monitors
Election monitoring
Election monitoring is the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or a non-governmental organization , primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and international standards. There are national...
from the Organisation of American States observed the election and said that it had been "free and fair".
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New National Party New National Party (Grenada) The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the... |
25,896 | 62.5 | 15 | |
| National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary... |
10,396 | 25.1 | 0 | |
| Grenada United Labour Party/United Labour 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... |
4,853 | 11.7 | 0 | |
| Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement The Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement was a socialist political party in Grenada. It was established by George Louison and Kendrick Radix, supporters of slain Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, after the US invasion of Grenada. However, despite the popularity of the revolution with many Grenadians,... |
260 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Good Old Democratic Party Good Old Democratic Party The Good Old Democratic Party , also known as Good Old Democracy, is a minor political party in Grenada led by Francis McBurnie. The party was established by journalist Justin McBurnie, and first contested national elections in 1990, when it received only six votes and failed to win a seat. In the... |
12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Independents | 38 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 203 | |||
| Total | 41,658 | 100 | 15 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen | ||||