1974 Vincentian general election
{{Infobox election
| country = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| flag_image = Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1907-1979).svg
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 1972 Vincentian general election
| previous_year = 1972
| election_date = 9 December 1974
| next_election = 1979 Vincentian general election
| next_year = 1979
| seats_for_election = 13 seats in the House of Assembly
| majority_seats = 7
| turnout = 63.24% ({{decrease}} 12.37pp)
| image_size = 130x130px
| image1 = 3x4.svg
| leader1 = Milton Cato
| party1 = Saint Vincent Labour Party
| last_election1 = {{nowrap|50.42%, 6 seats}}
| seats1 = 10
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}4
| popular_vote1 = 19,579
| percentage1 = 69.04%
| swing1 = {{increase}}18.62pp
| image2 = James_F._Mitchell_1986_(cropped).jpg
| colour2 = FABF8F
| leader2 = James Mitchell
| party2 = Mitchell/Sylvester Faction
| last_election2 = –
| seats2 = 1
| seat_change2 = New
| popular_vote2 = 4,641
| percentage2 = 16.37%
| swing2 = New
| image3 = 3x4.svg
| leader3 = {{nowrap|Ebenezer Joshua}}
| party3 = PPP
| last_election3 = 45.41%, 6 seats
| seats3 = 2
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}}4
| popular_vote3 = 3,806
| percentage3 = 13.42%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}31.99pp
| map_image = 1974 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines general election - Results by constituency.svg
| map_caption = Results by constituency
| title = Premier
| before_election = James Mitchell
| before_party = Independent
| after_election = Milton Cato
| after_party = SVLP
}}{{Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 9 December 1974.Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p600 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}} The result was a victory for the Saint Vincent Labour Party, which won ten of the 13 seats. Voter turnout was 63.2%.Nohlen, p603
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.{{Cite web|last=John|first=Kenneth|date=|title=The later Cato- Inside the house 1967-84|url=https://thevincentian.com/the-later-cato-inside-the-house-p5014-108.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126000641/https://thevincentian.com/the-later-cato-inside-the-house-p5014-108.htm |archive-date=2021-11-26 |access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Vincentian}}
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.{{Cite web|title=St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1972|url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/vc/elections/vc_results_1972.asp|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Caribbean Elections}} The Assembly was then dissolved on 23 September 1974. Nomination day was 18 November 1974.
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.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1974|url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/vc/elections/vc_results_1974.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213230529/http://www.caribbeanelections.com:80/vc/elections/vc_results_1974.asp |archive-date=2015-12-13 |access-date=2020-12-08|website=Caribbean Elections}}
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;{{Cite web|last=John|first=Kenneth|date=October 1993|title=A look at some political basics|url=https://thevincentian.com/a-look-at-some-political-basics-p15408-108.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715082653/https://thevincentian.com/a-look-at-some-political-basics-p15408-108.htm |archive-date=2021-07-15 |access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Vincentian}} it nominated two candidates. 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).{{Cite web|title=Caribbean Elections Biography {{!}} George Hamilton Charles|url=http://caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/charles_george_hamilton.asp|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Caribbean Elections}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Former Prime Ministers|url=http://assembly.gov.vc/assembly/index.php/former-prime-ministers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110225154/http://assembly.gov.vc:80/assembly/index.php/former-prime-ministers |archive-date=2018-11-10 |access-date=9 December 2020|website=House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
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.{{Cite web|last=John|first=Kenneth|date=6 May 2016|title=Mitchell and Eustace: A Non Issue (Part 2)|url=https://thevincentian.com/mitchell-and-eustace-a-non-issue-part-p10598-108.htm|access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Vincentian}} 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. 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.{{cite news|last1=Dawson|first1=Veta|date=28 November 2006|title=The 'Saints' are on the way|newspaper=The Gleaner|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/susun-wilkinson-politics-clipping-nov-28-2006-539427/|access-date=31 January 2018|via=NewspaperArchive.com}} {{open access}}{{Election results
|party1=Saint Vincent Labour Party|votes1=19579|seats1=10|sc1=+4
|party2=Mitchell/Sylvester Faction|votes2=4641|seats2=1|sc2=New|color2=#FABF8F
|party3=People's Political Party|votes3=3806|seats3=2|sc3=–4
|party4=Democratic Freedom Movement|votes4=217|seats4=0|sc4=New|color4=#948A54
|party5=West Indies National Party|votes5=116|seats5=0|sc5=New|color5=#DDD9C4
|invalid=215
|total_sc=0
|electorate=45181
|source=Nohlen
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Saint Vincent and the Grenadines elections}}