2020 Vincentian general election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| seats_for_election = 15 of 23 seats in the House of Assembly
| type = parliamentary
| turnout = 66.95% ({{decrease}} 6.44pp)
| majority_seats = 8
| election_date = 5 November 2020
| previous_election = 2015 Vincentian general election
| previous_year = 2015
| next_election = 2025 Vincentian general election
| next_year = 2025
| image1 = Ralph Gonsalves 2016.jpg
| leader1 = Ralph Gonsalves
| party1 = Unity Labour Party
| popular_vote1 = 32,419
| percentage1 = 49.59%
| seats1 = 9
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 1
| last_election1 = 8 seats
| swing1 = {{decrease}}2.69pp
| image2 = Godwin Friday 2019.jpg
| leader2 = Godwin Friday
| party2 = New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
| last_election2 = 7 seats
| popular_vote2 = 32,900
| percentage2 = 50.33%
| swing2 = {{increase}}2.96pp
| seats2 = 6
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 1
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Ralph Gonsalves
| before_party = Unity Labour Party
| after_election = Ralph Gonsalves
| after_party = Unity Labour Party
| map_image = 2020 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines general election - Results by constituency.svg
| map_caption = Results by constituency
}}{{Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 5 November 2020. Nomination day was 20 October 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-09|title=Gonsalves breaks trend, calls November election|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/10/09/gonsalves-breaks-trend-calls-november-election/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} The result was a victory for the Unity Labour Party, its fifth in a row; the party won nine of the fifteen seats, gaining one seat. These elections marked the first time since 1998 that the party which received the most votes did not win the most seats and the first time since 1994 that the New Democratic Party won the popular vote.
Electoral system
The 15 elected members of the House of Assembly are elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. A further six members are appointed: four by the government and two by the opposition.[http://www.caribbeanelections.com/elections/vc_elections.asp St. Vincent and the Grenadines Election Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704195353/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/elections/vc_elections.asp |date=4 July 2015 }} Caribbean Elections
As the previous elections had been held in 2015, the current elections were constitutionally required to be held by March 2021.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-09|title=Voice Yo Choice calls on youth to get involved in election process|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/front-page/2020/10/09/voice-yo-choice-calls-on-youth-to-get-involved-in-election-process/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}} While the previous three elections had been held in December, PM Ralph Gonsalves chose to hold this election in November.
Background
Several minor parties decided not to contest the elections. The SVG Party{{Cite web|title=The SVG party – Vote for Growth|url=https://thesvgparty.com/|access-date=2020-11-11|language=en-GB|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301003058/https://thesvgparty.com/|url-status=dead}} and the United Progressive Party{{Cite web|last=Sam|first=Ashecia|date=2020-10-03|title=UPP BACKS DOWN|url=https://onenewsstvincent.com/2020/10/03/upp-backs-down/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021070802/https://onenewsstvincent.com/2020/10/03/upp-backs-down/ |archive-date=21 October 2020 |access-date=2020-11-11|website=One News St.Vincent|language=en}} both ended their campaigns before Nomination Day. The leader of the Democratic Republican Party, Anesia Baptiste, announced her resignation on 9 October; she also stated that the party would not participate in the upcoming elections.{{Cite web|last=McTair|first=Demion|date=2020-10-09|title=Anesia Baptiste ends 8-year DRP leadership to preach gospel|url=https://onenewsstvincent.com/2020/10/09/anesia-baptiste-ends-8-year-drp-leadership-to-preach-gospel/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021080409/https://onenewsstvincent.com/2020/10/09/anesia-baptiste-ends-8-year-drp-leadership-to-preach-gospel/ |archive-date=21 October 2020 |access-date=2020-11-11|website=One News St.Vincent|language=en}}
=Contesting parties=
= Unity Labour Party =
The ULP campaigned for a record fifth term in power, with PM Gonsalves dubbing himself the "5-Star General".{{Cite web|date=17 July 2020|title=ULP View: The five STAR General|url=http://thevincentian.com/ulp-view-the-five-star-general-p19926-107.htm|access-date=2020-10-31|website=thevincentian.com}} Gonsalves pointed to the Argyle International Airport and the Canouan Airport as examples of the party's record in improving infrastructure. He criticized the NDP for supporting Citizenship by investment (CBI),{{Cite web|date=2020-10-10|title=I AM READY TO RUMBLE – GONSALVES|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/front-page/2020/10/10/i-am-ready-to-rumble-gonsalves/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}} and later alleged that foreign strategists were directing the NDP campaign and spying on the ULP.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-26|title=Gonsalves says NDP strategists cyber spying, tapping phone|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/10/26/gonsalves-says-ndp-strategists-cyber-spying-tapping-phone/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-18|title=NDP campaign masterminds won't leave if they set foot in SVG — PM|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/10/18/ndp-campaign-masterminds-wont-leave-if-they-set-foot-in-svg-pm/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} In contrast to the "foreign influences" of the NDP, Gonsalves emphasized that the ULP's party manifesto had "come from the bowels of the people of this country". He explained that new foreign investments in hotels and airports would allow the SVG to remain the sole country in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States without a CBI program.{{Cite web|last=McLeod|first=Sheri-Kae|date=2020-10-26|title=St. Vincent's Ruling Party Launches Manifesto Ahead of November 5 Poll|url=http://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/st-vincents-ruling-party-launches-manifesto-ahead-of-november-5-poll/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Caribbean News|language=en}}
Gonsalves' son Camillo, the incumbent East St. George MP, criticized the NDP for nominating a returning emigrant like Fitzgerald Bramble, rather than someone who had been living in the country more recently.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-05|title=FITZ BRAMBLE NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR GREEN PARTY—CAMILLO GONSALVES|url=https://annsvg.com/index.php/2020/10/05/fitz-bramble-not-qualified-to-run-for-green-party-camillo-gonsalves/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111121828/https://annsvg.com/index.php/2020/10/05/fitz-bramble-not-qualified-to-run-for-green-party-camillo-gonsalves/ |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=2020-11-11|website=Asberth News Network|language=en-US}}
= New Democratic Party =
After leading the NDP in the four previous elections, former PM Arnhim Eustace stepped down as party president in 2016,{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Calvin G.|date=17 November 2016|title=ST. VINCENT- Arnhim Eustace to step down as opposition leader|url=https://www.wiredja.com/news/politics/st-vincent-arnhim-eustace-to-step-down-as-opposition-leader|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105214211/https://www.wiredja.com/news/politics/st-vincent-arnhim-eustace-to-step-down-as-opposition-leader |archive-date=5 November 2020 |access-date=2020-10-31|website=www.wiredja.com|language=en-gb}} and retired from the Assembly in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-13|title=Plaudits for Eustace on his last day as MP|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/10/13/plaudits-for-eustace-on-his-last-day-as-mp/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}}
The new leader Godwin Friday criticized the ULP's cronyism and its inability to improve the country over its 19 years in power: while the ULP leaders benefited from government projects, the average citizen faced rising costs-of-living and an unemployment rate of over 30 percent. This situation led many young Vincentians to emigrate, further handicapping development.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-10|title=The choice in this election is clear – Friday|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/front-page/2020/10/10/the-choice-in-this-election-is-clear-friday/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}} To combat this, Friday proposed several incentives, such as decreasing the national VAT rate and the interest rate on student loans and reforming the port customs system.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-03|title=Friday promises to work for all of SVG's youth|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/11/03/friday-promises-to-work-for-all-of-svgs-youth/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} He also proposed an increase in the minimum stipend for workers in the national service.
While the NDP had been advocating for the country to switch recognition from Taiwan to China since 2016, the party moderated its stance after meeting with Vincentians currently studying in Taiwan on scholarship. Instead, the party indicated that it would maintain ties with Taiwan in return for increased investment in SVG.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-24|title=Friday's Taiwan scholarship pledge suggests pivot away from China|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/10/24/fridays-taiwan-scholarship-pledge-suggests-pivot-away-from-china/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}}
Shevern John, the NDP candidate for North Windward, was denied leave from her job as a schoolteacher in order to contest the election, a benefit specified in the collective bargaining agreement between the SVG Teachers' Union (SVGTU) and the Public Service Commission (PSC). She was forced to resign instead. In 2010, three teachers wanting to run as NDP candidates had also been forced to resign; the SVGTU obtained a court decision in the teachers' favour, but the PSC had not reinstated the teachers as of 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=Teacher resigns to contest next General Election|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/front-page/2020/10/23/teacher-resigns-to-contest-next-general-election/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}}
= SVG Green Party =
In its statements, the GP criticized both the ULP and the NDP for their overreliance on the tourism industry. The party promised free university education and wireless internet for all citizens. In addition, the GP proposed Green economy initiatives in order to encourage more-sustainable economic growth and provide better jobs for the local population. The initial funding for these initiatives would come from abolishing loopholes such as the "Mustique Act", which granted the (mostly foreign) residents of Mustique exemptions from tax and customs duties.{{Cite web|date=15 October 2020|title=SVG Green Party View: SVG is at a crossroad|url=http://thevincentian.com/svg-green-party-view-svg-is-at-a-crossroad-p20507-107.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107221538/http://thevincentian.com/svg-green-party-view-svg-is-at-a-crossroad-p20507-107.htm |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=2020-10-31|website=thevincentian.com}}{{Cite web|title=SVG Green Party View: Vote Green to make the super-rich of Mustique and Canouan pay tax|url=https://thevincentian.com/svg-green-party-view-vote-green-to-make-the-superrich-of-mustique-and-can-p20237-107.htm|access-date=2020-11-11|website=thevincentian.com}} Being smaller than the other two parties, the GP signalled support for joining a coalition government.{{Cite web|title=SVG Green Party View: The need for Green MPs and coalition governments|url=https://thevincentian.com/svg-green-party-view-the-need-for-green-mps-and-coalition-governments-p20610-107.htm|access-date=2020-10-31|website=thevincentian.com}}
Candidates
33 candidates were nominated in total: 15 each from the ULP and the NDP, 2 from the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Green Party, and one ULP member running as an independent in South Leeward.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=33 candidates to contest, including two Green Party, one Independent|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/front-page/2020/10/23/33-candidates-to-contest-including-two-green-party-one-independent/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=ULP supporter nominated as independent candidate for South Leeward|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/news/2020/10/23/ulp-supporter-nominated-as-independent-candidate-for-south-leeward/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Searchlight|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027041346/https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/news/2020/10/23/ulp-supporter-nominated-as-independent-candidate-for-south-leeward/|url-status=dead}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Constituency !style="background: {{party color|Unity Labour Party}}; color: white" | ULP {{Cite web|date=2020-09-01|title=ULP leader hints that the next general election is not far off|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/news/2020/09/01/ulp-leader-hints-that-the-next-general-election-is-not-far-off/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Gonsalves unleashes verbal onslaught in defence of 'fresh' candidates|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/09/04/gonsalves-unleashes-verbal-onslaught-in-defence-of-fresh-candidates/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} !style="background: {{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}; color: white" | NDP {{Cite web|title=Chieftain Neptune|url=https://www.ndpsvg.com/our-canddates/chieftain-neptune/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025080855/https://www.ndpsvg.com/our-canddates/chieftain-neptune/ |archive-date=25 October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-11|website=NDP SVG|language=en-GB}} !style="background: {{party color|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Green Party}}; color: white" | GP{{cite web |title=List of Candidates for SVG 2020 Elections. |url=https://www.facebook.com/news784/photos/pcb.2392106591094799/2392106501094808/?type=3&theater |website=www.facebook.com |accessdate=21 October 2020}} ! colspan="2" |Incumbent{{Cite web|date=2015-12-10|title=Four in a row for ULP|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2015/12/10/four-in-a-row-for-ulp/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} |
| Central Kingstown
|Dominic Sutherland | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| Central Leeward
|Orlando Brewster |Benjamin Exeter | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| East Kingstown
|Luke Brown | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| East St. George
|Laverne Gibson-Velox |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| Marriaqua
|Bernard Wylie | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| North Central Windward
|Chieftain Neptune |Kadmiel McFee |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| North Leeward
|Carlos James | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| North Windward
|Shevern John | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| Northern Grenadines
|Carlos Williams | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| South Central Windward
|Israel Bruce | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| South Leeward
|Minerva Glasgow{{Refn|ULP member Asordo Bennett is also running in this constituency as an independent.|group=note}} | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| South Windward
|Noel Dickson | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
| Southern Grenadines
|Edwin Snagg | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| West Kingstown
|Deborah Charles | |bgcolor={{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}| |
| West St. George
|Curtis King |Kay Bacchus-Baptiste | |bgcolor={{party color|Unity Labour Party}}| |
{{Reflist|group=note}}
=Marginal seats=
| class=wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
!colspan=4 style=background:{{party color|Unity Labour Party}}|Unity Labour Party !colspan=4 style=background:{{party color|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)}}|New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) |
| colspan=3|Constituency
!2015 majority !colspan=3|Constituency !2015 majority |
|---|
| 1
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|North Leeward |0.21% |1 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|Central Leeward |5.13% |
| 2
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|South Leeward |1.61% |2 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|North Windward |5.13% |
| 3
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|East Kingstown |2.26% |3 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|East St. George |7.79% |
| 4
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|West Kingstown |7.02% |4 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|West St. George |8.40% |
| 5
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|Central Kingstown |7.77% |5 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|South Central Windward |10.16% |
| 6
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|Southern Grenadines |15.31% |6 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|Marriaqua |12.17% |
| 7
|bgcolor={{party color|United National Congress}}| |align=left|Northern Grenadines |34.44% |7 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|South Windward |12.58% |
| colspan=4|
|8 |bgcolor={{party color|People's National Movement}}| |align=left|North Central Windward |42.84% |
| align=left colspan=8|Source: [http://electoral.gov.vc/electoral/index.php/election/reports/16-2015-svg-general-elections-report 2015 SVG General Elections Report - Electoral Office] |
Results
For the first time since 1998, the ULP did not win the popular vote. However, the ULP saw their majority increase by one seat, North Leeward, which the ULP won by 7 votes. All other seats remained in the hands of the party previously holding them.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-06|title=ULP wins 5 in a row|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/11/06/ulp-wins-5-in-a-row/|access-date=2020-11-07|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}} The NDP candidate for North Leeward, Roland "Patel" Matthews, requested a recount. Some ballots from both sides were rejected in the recount; the final tally showed the ULP winning by 1 vote.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=Second recount requested as James' lead falls to 1|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/11/07/second-recount-requested-as-james-lead-falls-to-1/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107121037/https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/11/07/second-recount-requested-as-james-lead-falls-to-1/ |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}}
The National Monitoring and Consultative Mechanism (NMCM), a domestic election observer, judged the election to be free and fair overall.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-10|title=NMCM Observers say SVG General Elections were free and fair|url=https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/news/2020/11/10/nmcm-observers-say-svg-general-elections-were-free-and-fair/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Searchlight|language=en-US|archive-date=10 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110130747/https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/news/2020/11/10/nmcm-observers-say-svg-general-elections-were-free-and-fair/|url-status=dead}} This was corroborated by a CARICOM observer mission.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=CARICOM Election Observation Mission declares the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Elections free and fair|url=https://caricom.org/caricom-election-observation-mission-declares-the-st-vincent-and-the-grenadines-elections-free-and-fair/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=CARICOM|language=en-US}}
Gonsalves was sworn in for his fifth term on 7 November, with Montgomery Daniel sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister. The Governor-General, Susan Dougan, congratulated Gonsalves on his record win; she then reminded him to "create a structure for healing" society after the election, reaching out to opposition supporters as well as his own.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=GG urges PM to continue inclusive governance|url=https://www.iwnsvg.com/2020/11/07/gg-urges-pm-to-continue-inclusive-governance/|access-date=2020-11-11|website=iWitness News|language=en-GB}}
{{Election results
|image=File:Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines Assemblée 2020.svg
|party1=New Democratic Party|votes1=32900|seats1=6|sc1=–1
|party2=Unity Labour Party|votes2=32419|seats2=9|sc2=+1
|party3=Green Party|votes3=33|seats3=0|sc3=0
|party4=Independents|votes4=16|seats4=0|sc4=New
|invalid=319
|total_sc=0
|electorate=98119
|source=[https://electoral.gov.vc/electoral/images/PDF/Report_on_General_Elections_2021.pdf Electoral Office]
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Saint Vincent and the Grenadines elections}}