1995_British_Virgin_Islands_general_election

1995 British Virgin Islands general election

1995 British Virgin Islands general election

General election held in the British Virgin Islands

General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 20 February 1995. The result was a victory for the incumbent Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by Chief Minister Lavity Stoutt. The VIP won a plurality of six seats, and thus were able to form a minority government as no other party or coalition could muster a larger number of seats. The BVI United Party (UP) won three seats, and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) won two seats. The two other seats were won by independents.[1] Shortly after the election Alvin Christopher joined the VIP upon being offered a Ministerial seat, giving the VIP an outright majority.

Quick Facts 13 of the 15 seats in the British Virgin Islands Legislative Council 7 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

It was the first election to be fought in the British Virgin Islands after the introduction of Territorial at-large seats. Lavity Stoutt had fought hard against the introduction of at-large seats, fearing it would undermine the strong territorial base of the VIP. After his victory he said: "The at-large system was a plot, a plot designed to derail H. Lavity Stoutt. Well it failed. The people have had their say. Their voice has been heard."[2]

The 1995 general election also witnessed the first ever female representatives elected: Ethlyn E. Smith in the Fifth District, and Eileene Parsons as an At-large representative. Eileene Parsons would later join the ruling Virgin Islands Party and become the first ever female Minister for Government in the Territory.

Former Chief Minister, Willard Wheatley ran as an independent in at the at-large seats and was resoundingly rejected by the voters, only winning slightly more votes than were recorded as spoiled ballots (265 against 232).

It was the last election in the British Virgin Islands to be fought prior to the death of Lavity Stoutt.

The supervisor of elections was Eugenie Todman-Smith.[3] The turnout was 68.8%.

Results

More information Party, District ...

Notable candidates

Notable candidates who were elected to the Legislature for the first time included the first two women elected to the Legislature, Ethlyn Eugenie Smith and Eileene Parsons; and future Minister, Alvin Christopher. Conversely, Willard Wheatley suffered the worst electoral defeat of his career, and would never run again. Cyril Romney was defeated for the first time since 1975, although he would run again (unsuccessfully) in 1999. Longtime legislators Oliver Cills and Terrance Lettsome were both elected, but neither would stand again after the 1995 election. Lavity Stoutt was also elected, but would die later in the same year. Andre Penn was elected for his only ever term of office; Penn would later be convicted of sexual crimes involving children and sentenced to 12 years in prison;[4] and is believed to be the only elected official in the British Virgin Islands to be subsequently convicted of an indictable offence.

Individual territorial seats

First Electoral District

More information Candidate, Jost Van Dyke ...
Total number of registered voters: 1,139
Total number of votes cast: 716
Percentage of voters who voted: 62.9%
Spoiled ballots: 0

Second Electoral District

More information Candidate, Cane Garden Bay ...
Total number of registered voters: 545
Total number of votes cast: 345
Percentage of voters who voted: 83.3%
Spoiled ballots: 1

Third Electoral District

More information Candidates, Meyers ...
Total number of registered voters: 705
Total number of votes cast: 598
Percentage of voters who voted: 84.8%
Spoiled ballots: 1

Fourth Electoral District

More information Candidates, Salt Island ...
Total number of registered voters: 912
Total number of votes cast: 618
Percentage of voters who voted: 67.8%
Spoiled ballots: 3

Fifth Electoral District

More information Candidates, Huntum's Ghut ...
Total number of registered voters: 973
Total number of votes cast: 594
Percentage of voters who voted: 61.0%
Spoiled ballots: 0

Sixth Electoral District

More information Candidates, Baughers Bay ...
Total number of registered voters: 955
Total number of votes cast: 643
Percentage of voters who voted: 67.3%
Spoiled ballots: 0

Seventh Electoral District

More information Candidates, Long Look ...
Total number of registered voters: 589
Total number of votes cast: 379
Percentage of voters who voted: 64.3%
Spoiled ballots: 1

Eighth Electoral District

More information Candidates, East End ...
Total number of registered voters: 727
Total number of votes cast: 515
Percentage of voters who voted: 70.8%
Spoiled ballots: 4

Ninth Electoral District

More information Candidates, The Valley ...
Total number of registered voters: 992
Total number of votes cast: 808
Percentage of voters who voted: 81.5%
Spoiled ballots: 5

At-large seats

Territorial At-Large Electoral District

More information Position, Name ...
Total votes rejected: 232
Total valid votes: 19,287
Total votes counted: 19,500
Percentage of votes: 63.0%
Total ballots: 5,287
Total registered: 7,731
Percentage turnout: 68.39%

References

  1. [1]
    "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. pp. 114–188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014.
  2. [2]
    "OBITUARY : H. Lavity Stoutt". The Independent. 23 May 1995. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  3. [3]
    "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014.
  4. [4]
    "Andre Penn convicted on 11 of 12 counts". BVI Beacon. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015. Former legislator Andre Penn was convicted this week for 11 of the 12 sex crimes against a minor that he allegedly perpetrated between 2006 and 2008
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