1974 Vincentian general election
9 December 1974
13 seats in the House of Assembly
7 seats needed for a majority
Turnout63.2%(Decrease12.4pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Milton Cato James Mitchell Ebenezer Joshua
Party SVLP Mitchell/Sylvester Faction PPP
Last election 50.42%, 6 seats – 45.41%, 6 seats
Seats won 10 1 2
Seat change Increase4 New Decrease4
Popular vote 19,579 4,641 3,806
Percentage 69.04% 16.37% 13.42%
Swing Increase18.62pp New Decrease31.99pp
Premier before election

James Mitchell
Independent

 Elected Premier

Milton Cato
SVLP

General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 9 December 1974.[1] The result was a victory for the Saint Vincent Labour Party, which won ten of the 13 seats. Voter turnout was 63.2%.[2]

Background

After the 1972 elections, the People's Political Party (PPP) and the Saint Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) both won six seats. The People's Political Party (PPP) managed to form a government with the support of the remaining MP James Mitchell, who won reelection as an independent after resigning from the SVLP. The "Alliance Government" was formed with Mitchell as Premier and PPP leader Ebenezer Joshua as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.[3]

On 18 September 1974, the House of Assembly passed a motion of no confidence; Ebenezer and Ivy Joshua had just resigned from the government due to policy disagreements with Mitchell.[4] The Assembly was then dissolved on 23 September 1974. Nomination day was 18 November 1974.[5]

Candidates

A total of 31 candidates were nominated by five different political parties. Out of the parties in the Assembly, the SVLP had the largest contingent with eleven candidates. Mitchell and PPP minister Othniel Sylvester founded a splinter party and nominated eleven candidates, while the PPP nominated only three candidates.[5]

In addition, two new political parties contested the elections. The Democratic Freedom Movement was founded by Kenneth John to advocate for political reforms such as recall elections, term limits, and campaign financing regulation;[6] it nominated two candidates.[5] The West Indies National Party was led by George Hamilton Charles, founder of the Eighth Army of Liberation and former Majority Leader of the Legislative Council (1951–1957); the party nominated four candidates (including Charles).[7][5][8]

Results

The SVLP won a decisive victory with ten seats, giving party leader Milton Cato his second term as Premier. Mitchell was the only successful candidate from his new party, and the Joshuas were the only successful PPP candidates.[9] While Ebenezer Joshua joined the government as Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Ivy Joshua decided to remain in opposition rather than support a coalition with the SVLP. She then became Leader of the Opposition instead of Mitchell.[10] In 1957, Ebenezer and Ivy had become the first married couple to be elected to a parliament of the British West Indies; now they became the first couple to serve on opposite benches.[10]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Saint Vincent Labour Party19,57969.0410+4
Mitchell/Sylvester Faction4,64116.371New
People's Political Party3,80613.422–4
Democratic Freedom Movement2170.770New
West Indies National Party1160.410New
Total28,359100.00130
Valid votes28,35999.25
Invalid/blank votes2150.75
Total votes28,574100.00
Registered voters/turnout45,18163.24
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p600 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. ↑ Nohlen, p603
  3. ↑ John, Kenneth. "The later Cato- Inside the house 1967-84". The Vincentian. Archived from the original on 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  4. ↑ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1972". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1974". Caribbean Elections. Archived from the original on 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  6. ↑ John, Kenneth (October 1993). "A look at some political basics". The Vincentian. Archived from the original on 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  7. ↑ "Caribbean Elections Biography | George Hamilton Charles". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  8. ↑ "Former Prime Ministers". House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Archived from the original on 2018-11-10. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. ↑ John, Kenneth (6 May 2016). "Mitchell and Eustace: A Non Issue (Part 2)". The Vincentian. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  10. 1 2 Dawson, Veta (28 November 2006). "The 'Saints' are on the way". The Gleaner. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via NewspaperArchive.com. Open access icon
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