British Virgin Islands general election, 1999

British Virgin Islands general election, 1999

May 17, 1999 (1999-05-17)

All seats in the British Virgin Islands House of Assembly 7 seats needed for a majority Turnout 65%   First party Second party   Leader Orlando Smith Ralph T. O'Neal Party National Democratic Party Virgin Islands Party Leader since 1999 1995 Leader's seat At-large 9th District Last election 0 seats, 0.0% 6 seats, 32.1% Seats before 0 6 Seats won 5 7 Seat change +5 +1 Percentage 37.3%% 42.2% Swing +37.3% +10.1%

Chief Minister before election Ralph T. O'Neal Virgin Islands Party Elected Chief Minister Ralph T. O'Neal Virgin Islands Party

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.

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.^[1]

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%

Footnotes

Elections in the British Virgin Islands
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