British Virgin Islands general election, 1983
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The British Virgin Islands general election, 1983 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 11 November 1983. The result was a victory for the opposition United Party in coalition with independent candidate Cyril Romney over the governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by former Chief Minister Lavity Stoutt. Each major party won four seats, and Cyril Romney was the sole remaining elected independent. Accordingly, Romney allegedly agree to join a coalition with whichever party would make him Chief Minister. The VIP declined to do so, but the UP eventually agreed thereby winning the election despite securing a smaller overall percentage of the vote.
Janice George served as the supervisor of elections.[1] Turnout averaged 73.1% across the six districts that voted; the 1st District had the highest turnout (83.5%) and the 3rd District had the lowest (67.8%).[2]
1983 was the second election after the Legislative Council had been expanded from seven district seats to nine. Astonishingly, just like the previous election, fully one third of the seats up for election were not contested, with only a single candidate standing in the 7th, 8th and 9th Districts. For the 7th and 8th Districts, this was the second consecutive general election when those seats went uncontested.
The election is also notable in that every single person who would ever serve as Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands (excluding Premiers) (Stoutt, Wheatley, Romney and O'Neal) was elected during the 1983 general election.
Notable candidates who were elected for the first time included future Leader of the Opposition, E. Walwyn Brewley.
Results
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Party | 1,314 | 42.3% | 4 |
| Virgin Islands Party | 1,363 | 43.8% | 4 |
| Independents | 359 | 11.5% | 1 |
| Total | 3,110 | 100% | 9 |
| Turnout: 73.1% | |||
Individual seats
| Constituency | Candidates | Votes | Percentage | Winner | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st District Turnout: 83.5% |
H. Lavity Stoutt (VIP) | 421 | 55.6% | H. Lavity Stoutt | Virgin Islands Party |
| Basil Blake (UP) | 336 | 44.4% | |||
| Total | 757 | 100% | |||
| 2nd District Turnout: 70.2% |
Conrad Maduro (UP) | 148 | 53.4% | Conrad Maduro | United Party |
| Prince Stoutt (VIP) | 129 | 46.6% | |||
| Total | 277 | 100% | |||
| 3rd District Turnout: 67.8% |
Earl Fraser (UP) | 244 | 50.8% | Earl Fraser | United Party |
| Oliver Cills (VIP) | 236 | 49.2% | |||
| Total | 480 | 100% | |||
| 4th District Turnout: 68.7% |
E. Walwyn Brewley (UP) | 310 | 58.3% | E. Walwyn Brewley | United Party |
| Alban U. Anthony (VIP) | 222 | 41.7% | |||
| Total | 532 | 100% | |||
| 5th District Turnout: 68.6% |
Cyril Romney (Ind) | 187 | 40.3% | Cyril Romney | Independent |
| Eileene Parsons (Ind) | 154 | 33.2% | |||
| Patsy Lake (VIP) | 68 | 14.7% | |||
| Harold Vanterpool (UP) | 55 | 11.9% | |||
| Total | 464 | 100% | |||
| 6th District Turnout: 76.3% |
Omar Hodge (VIP) | 279 | 54.9% | Omar Hodge | Virgin Islands Party |
| Charles Mercer (UP) | 229 | 45.1% | |||
| Total | 508 | 100% | |||
| 7th District | Terrance B. Lettsome (VIP) | Uncontested | Terrance B. Lettsome | Virgin Islands Party | |
| 8th District | Willard Wheatley (UP) | Uncontested | Willard Wheatley | United Party | |
| 9th District | Ralph T. O'Neal (VIP) | Uncontested | Ralph T. O'Neal | Virgin Islands Party | |
Footnotes
- ↑ "BVI election and information results 1950-2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. p. 7.
- ↑ "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. pp. 88–90.
- ↑ "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. pp. 88–90.
- ↑ "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. pp. 88–90.
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