1999 Grenadian general election

Background

The last election in 1995 saw the then-governing National Democratic Congress defeated by the New National Party, which won 8 of the 15 seats. However, the New National Party lost their majority in late 1998, after the Foreign Minister Raphael Fletcher was one of 2 ministers to quit the party accusing the government of corruption. As a result, Parliament was dissolved 18 months before the end of its term on 2 December 1998,

48 candidates stood in the election, including 2 independents, for the 15 seats which were elected by first-past-the-post. Candidates included a full 15 candidates from the New National Party, 12 from the National Democratic Congress and 9 from the Grenada United Labour Party.

Campaign

The governing New National Party of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell campaigned on pledges to preserve stability and bring about economic growth. Mitchell said that his government would create jobs by increased spending on infrastructure and by attracting foreign investment.

Meanwhile, the opposition, comprising a loose alliance between the National Democratic Congress and the Grenada United Labour Party, attacked the government for corruption. They alleged that there had been issues with the awarding of contracts and that the Prime Minister had been involved with foreign investors with shady backgrounds. The opposition also said the government was not doing enough for health care, and they in particular attacked a decision to build a stadium instead of a hospital. However, the opposition suffered divisions, with disagreement between the two opposition parties over who should become Prime Minister if they won the election.

Results

The results saw the governing New National Party re-elected after winning all 15 seats contested. Among the victorious candidates for the governing party was the Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, who won his own seat of St George's Northwest with 89% of the vote.

The government's record in attracting investment and increasing economic growth was seen as having gained support for the New National Party, while the opposition said that the six-week campaign had been too short for them to prepare for the election. Election monitors from the Organisation of American States observed the election and said that it had been "free and fair".

References

References

1. [[Dieter Nohlen]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p. 307 {{ISBN. 978-0-19-928357-6
2. Nohlen, p. 311
3. "Grenada: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 1995".
4. Wren, Christopher S.. (4 December 1998). "World Briefing". [[The New York Times]].
5. (19 January 1999). "Grenada PM wins second term".
6. "Grenada: parliamentary elections House of Representative, 1999".
7. (19 January 1999). "Voters cast ballots in Grenada election".
8. (19 January 1999). "Grenada's government win landslide victory".