1998 Vincentian general election
15 June 1998
15 seats in the House of Assembly
8 seats needed for a majority
Turnout67.36% (Increase 1.75pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader James Mitchell Vincent Beache
Party New Democratic Unity Labour
Leader's seat Northern Grenadines North Central Windward
Last election 54.95%, 12 seats –
Seats won 8 7
Seat change Decrease 4 New
Popular vote 23,258 28,025
Percentage 45.31% 54.60%
Swing Decrease 9.64pp New
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election

James Mitchell
New Democratic

 Elected Prime Minister

James Mitchell
New Democratic

General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 15 June 1998.[1] Although the Unity Labour Party (ULP) received a majority of the public vote, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won a majority of seats, the first time the party receiving a majority of the vote had failed to win the elections since 1966. Voter turnout was 67.4%.[2]

Campaign

The ruling NDP led by Prime Minister James Mitchell was opposed by the ULP headed by Vincent Beache; the ULP had been founded in 1994 by a merger of the Movement for National Unity (MNU) and the Saint Vincent Labour Party. The election date had been announced on 18 May.[3]

During the campaign, the NDP advocated tax cuts and the promotion of tourism and agricultural development, while the ULP called for job creation, economic development and improved social services.[4]

Results

When polling results giving the NDP eight seats and the ULP seven seats were announced, Beache declared that he could not accept the outcome and called for fresh elections, alleging voter intimidation, fraud, and bribery; this was promptly rebutted by the NDP. Final results showed the ULP had received 54.6% of valid votes.

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Unity Labour Party28,02554.607+4
New Democratic Party23,25845.318–4
People's Working Party450.090New
Total51,328100.00150
Valid votes51,32899.64
Invalid/blank votes1850.36
Total votes51,513100.00
Registered voters/turnout76,46967.36
Source: Nohlen

By constituency

ConstituencyULPNDPPWPValidTotalTurnoutRegistered
Votes%Votes%Votes%
North Windward1,81749.2%1,87550.8%3,6923,70479%4,668
North Central Windward2,94378.1%82721.9%3,7703,78967%5,697
South Central Windward1,81148.5%1,92051.5%3,7313,75170%5,332
South Windward2,36167.3%1,10231.4%451.3%3,5083,52169%5,086
Marriaqua2,50463.3%1,45336.7%39573,96669%5,724
East St. George2,51462.3%1,52237.7%4,0364,04668%5,993
West St. George2,36662.5%1,42137.5%3,7873,80365%5,819
East Kingstown1,65549.6%1,68250.4%3,3373,34660%5,552
Central Kingstown2,00656.3%1,55843.7%3,5643,57862%5,792
West Kingstown1,50247.0%1,69153.0%3,1933,20859%5,403
South Leeward2,01448.8%2,11751.2%4,1314,14769%5,995
Central Leeward2,18356.7%1,67043.3%3,8533,86174%5,225
North Leeward1,65846.9%1,88053.1%3,5383,54372%4,932
Northern Grenadines22011.7%1,66888.3%1,8881,89859%3,236
Southern Grenadines47135.1%87264.9%1,3431,35267%2,015
Total28,02554.6%23,25845.3%450.1%51,32851,51367%76,469
Source: Caribbean Elections [5]

Aftermath

On 17 June Mitchell was sworn in for his fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister; his new Cabinet took office the next day. In December 1998 Beache resigned as leader of the ULP, and Ralph Gonsalves was elected in his place. However, Beache remained as leader of the opposition in the House of Assembly.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p600 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. ↑ Nohlen, p604
  3. ↑ "SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: parliamentary elections House of Assembly, 1998". archive.ipu.org.
  4. 1 2 "General Election Results - 15 June 1998". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1998". Caribbean Elections.
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