2018 Barbadian general election
← 2013 24 May 2018 2022 →
30 seats in the House of Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
Turnout59.56% (Decrease2.46pp)
  First party
 
Leader Mia Mottley
Party BLP
Last election 48.22%, 14 seats
Seats won 30
Seat change Increase16
Popular vote 112,955
Percentage 73.47%
Swing Increase25.25pp
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election

Freundel Stuart
DLP

Elected Prime Minister

Mia Mottley
BLP

Politics of Barbados
Constitution
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Legislature
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Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Historical

General elections were held in Barbados on 24 May 2018.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), which won all 30 seats in the House of Assembly,[2] resulting in BLP leader Mia Mottley becoming the country's first female Prime Minister. The BLP's victory was the first time a party had won every seat in the House of Assembly. Previously, the most one-sided result for a Barbadian election had been in 1999, when the BLP won 26 of the 28 seats. The BLP's 73.5 percent vote share was also the highest on record.

The ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) led by Freundel Stuart lost all 16 seats,[2] the worst defeat of a sitting government in Barbadian history. The DLP saw its vote share more than halve compared to the previous elections in 2013, with only one of its candidates receiving more than 40 percent of the vote. Stuart was defeated in his own constituency, receiving only 26.7 percent of the vote,[3] the second time a sitting Prime Minister had lost their own seat. It was also the first time since independence that the constituency of St John, a traditionally DLP stronghold, was won by the BLP.[4]

The election was fought primarily on the DLP's stewardship of the economy during its decade in power. The government had had to contend with numerous downgrades of its credit rating due to fallout from the global financial crisis. The BLP criticised the DLP over rising taxes and a declining standard of living, and promised numerous infrastructure upgrades if elected.[3]

Electoral system

The 30 members of the House of Assembly were elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.[5]

Candidates

A record 134 candidates from nine political parties contested the elections. Four of the smaller parties chose to fight together under the 'Coalition of United Parties' banner.[6]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Barbados Labour Party112,95573.4730+16
Democratic Labour Party33,55121.820–16
Solutions Barbados3,7722.450New
United Progressive Party1,9131.240New
Barbados Integrity Movement3400.220New
Bajan Free Party1070.0700
People's Democratic Congress550.0400
Kingdom Government of Barbados260.0200
Progressive Conservative Party100.010New
Independents1,0090.6600
Total153,738100.00300
Valid votes153,73899.70
Invalid/blank votes4550.30
Total votes154,193100.00
Registered voters/turnout258,90159.56
Source: Parliament of Barbados

By constituency

Christ Church East

Christ Church East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Wilfred Abrahams 4,432 73.9 +30.6
DLP Denis Lowe 1,350 22.5 -34.2
SB Ann Weatherhead 161 2.7 new
UPP Victor Knight 53 0.9 new
Majority 3,082 51.4 +38.0
Turnout 5,996
BLP gain from DLP Swing +32.4

Christ Church East Central

Christ Church East Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Ryan Straughn 4,062 71.2 +30.2
DLP Ronald Jones 1,334 23.4 -35.6
SB Scott Weatherhead 217 3.8 new
UPP Ogeji Dottin 93 1.6 new
Majority 2,728 47.8 +29.8
Turnout 5,706
BLP gain from DLP Swing +32.9

Christ Church South

Christ Church South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Ralph Thorne 3,094 70.4 +27.1
DLP John Boyce 1,120 25.5 -30.4
SB Julie Chalbaud 111 2.5 new
UPP Nadja Willis 28 0.6 new
Kingdom Government of Barbados Steve Hunte 26 0.6 -0.2
Independent Buddy Larrier 14 0.3 new
Majority 1,974 44.9 +32.3
Turnout 4,393
BLP gain from DLP Swing +28.8

Christ Church West

Christ Church West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP William Duguid 3,080 69.6 +17.8
DLP Verla Depeiza 759 17.1 -22.8
SB Irvin Belgrave 589 13.3 new
Majority 2,321 52.4 +40.7
Turnout 4,428
BLP hold Swing +20.3

Christ Church West Central

Christ Church West Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Adrian Forde 3,891 74.3 +32.5
DLP Stephen Lashley 1,131 21.6 -36.6
SB Kenneth Lewis 170 3.2 new
UPP Ria Riley 45 0.9 new
Majority 2,760 52.7 +36.3
Turnout 5,237
BLP gain from DLP Swing +34.5

City of Bridgetown

City of Bridgetown
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Jeffrey Bostic 2,781 73.6 +22.0
DLP Henderson Williams 793 21.0 -27.4
SB Fallon Best 76 2.0 new
UPP Lynette Eastmond 63 1.7 new
Independent Natalie Harewood 54 1.4 new
Progressive Conservative Party Rodney Nurse 10 0.3 new
Majority 1,988 52.6 +49.5
Turnout 3,777
BLP hold Swing +24.7

St. Andrew

St. Andrew
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP George Payne 3,512 74.5 +21.9
DLP V. Irene Sandiford-Garner 1,045 22.2 -25.2
SB Cherie Pounder 68 1.4 new
UPP Roli Roachford 53 1.1 new
Independent Stephen Pollard 35 0.7 new
Majority 2,467 52.3 +47.1
Turnout 4,713
BLP hold Swing +23.5

St. George North

St. George North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Gline Clarke 4,779 80.8 +21.4
DLP Jepter Ince 745 12.6 -27.9
SB Grenville Phillips 264 4.5 new
UPP Everton Holligan 124 2.1 new
Majority 4,034 68.2 +49.3
Turnout 5,912
BLP hold Swing +24.6

St. George South

St. George South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Dwight Sutherland 5,363 79.3 +24.2
DLP Esther Byer-Suckoo 1,100 16.3 -28.6
SB Andrew Banfield 193 2.9 new
UPP Craig Harewood 69 1.0 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Doris Ramratty-Barrow 34 0.5 new
Majority 4,263 63.1 +52.8
Turnout 6,759
BLP hold Swing +26.4

St. James Central

St. James Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Kerrie Symmonds 3,577 78.2 +28.0
DLP George Connolly 733 16.0 -32.7
SB Daniel Chalbaud 123 2.7 new
UPP Wendell Callender 64 1.4 new
Independent Joseph Jordan 49 1.1 new
People's Democratic Congress Eric Marshall 28 0.6 -0.5
Majority 2,844 62.2 +60.7
Turnout 4,574
BLP hold Swing +30.4

St. James North

St. James North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Edmund Hinkson 3,716 83.7 +29.1
DLP Harcourt Husbands 592 13.3 -32.0
SB David Waldron 76 1.7 new
UPP Granville Cobham 54 1.2 new
Majority 3,124 70.4 +61.1
Turnout 4,438
BLP hold Swing +30.6

St. James South

St. James South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Cheryl Husbands 4,012 68.1 +24.7
DLP Donville Inniss 1,674 28.4 -28.1
SB Jacqueline Alleyne-Worrell 103 1.7 new
UPP Christal Austin 101 1.7 new
Majority 2,338 39.7 +26.6
Turnout 5,890
BLP gain from DLP Swing +26.4

St. John

St. John
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Charles Griffith 2,983 57.9 +36.6
DLP George Pilgrim 1,598 31.0 -47.7
UPP Hudson Griffith 308 6.0 new
Independent Leroy McClean 155 3.0 new
SB Cherone Martindale 86 1.7 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Derek Went 22 0.4 new
Majority 1,385 26.9 -30.5
Turnout 5,152
BLP gain from DLP Swing +42.1

St. Joseph

St. Joseph
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Dale Marshall 3,391 70.6 +17.1
Independent Randall Rouse 700 14.6 new
DLP Dennis Holder 588 12.2 -34.3
SB Jennifer Highland 125 2.6 new
Majority 2,691 56.0 +49.1
Turnout 4,804
BLP hold Swing n/a

St. Lucy

St. Lucy
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Peter Phillips 3,959 66.4 +20.0
DLP Denis St. Kellman 1,789 30.0 -23.6
SB John Carter 121 2.0 new
UPP Wayne Griffith 69 1.2 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Richard Roach 27 0.5 new
Majority 2,170 36.4 +29.2
Turnout 5,965
BLP gain from DLP Swing +21.8

St. Michael Central

St. Michael Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Arthur Holder 2,948 73.6 +24.1
DLP Steven Blackett 905 22.6 -27.9
UPP Richard Barrow 69 1.7 new
SB Robert Toussaint 62 1.5 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Glenville Evelyn 20 0.5 new
Majority 2,043 51.0 +50.1
Turnout 4,004
BLP gain from DLP Swing +26.0

St. Michael East

St. Michael East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Trevor Prescod 3,408 71.5 +20.2
DLP Nicholas Alleyne 1,147 24.1 -24.7
SB Betty Howell 108 2.3 new
UPP Paul Forte 47 1.0 new
Independent Iramar Daisley 37 0.8 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Catherine Yarde 20 0.4 new
Majority 2,261 47.4 +44.9
Turnout 4,767
BLP hold Swing +22.5

St. Michael North

St. Michael North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Ronald Toppin 3,518 72.3 +20.8
DLP Kim Tudor 1,132 23.3 -24.4
UPP Maria Phillips 99 2.0 new
SB Angela Gibbs 72 1.5 new
People's Democratic Congress Mark Adamson 27 0.6 -0.2
Independent Lesloyed Bishop 15 0.3 new
Majority 2,386 49.1 +45.3
Turnout 4,863
BLP hold Swing +22.6

St. Michael North East

St. Michael North East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Mia Mottley 4,553 87.2 +18.3
DLP Patrick Todd 500 9.6 -21.5
SB Kemar Stuart 133 2.5 new
Bajan Free Party Enlou Frere 37 0.7 new
Majority 4,053 77.6 +39.8
Turnout 5,223
BLP hold Swing +19.9

St. Michael North West

St. Michael North West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Neil Rowe 2,489 55.6 +18.9
DLP Christopher Sinckler 1,991 44.4 -18.9
Majority 498 11.1 -15.6
Turnout 4,480
BLP gain from DLP Swing +18.9

St. Michael South

St. Michael South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Kirk Humphery 2,969 70.0 +35.3
DLP Freundel Stuart 1,083 25.5 -38.7
SB Paul Gibson 104 2.5 new
UPP Sandra Corbin 57 1.3 new
Bajan Free Party Alex Mitchell 31 0.7 -0.5
Majority 1,886 44.4 +14.9
Turnout 4,244
BLP gain from DLP Swing +37.0

St. Michael South Central

St. Michael South Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Marsha Caddle 2,881 67.6 +20.8
DLP Richard Sealy 1,101 25.8 -27.3
UPP David Gill 198 4.6 new
SB Alan Springer 81 1.9 new
Majority 1,780 41.8 +35.5
Turnout 4,261
BLP gain from DLP Swing +24.0

St. Michael South East

St. Michael South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Santia Bradshaw 3,803 75.6 +25.5
DLP Rodney Grant 1,099 21.8 -28.1
SB Arlene Bourne 105 2.1 new
UPP Veronica Price 26 0.5 new
Majority 2,704 53.7 +53.5
Turnout 5,033
BLP hold Swing +26.8

St. Michael West

St. Michael West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Joseph Atherley 3,214 76.8 +28.3
DLP Michael Carrington 838 20.0 -31.4
SB Lana Toussaint 55 1.3 new
UPP Patsie Nurse 45 1.1 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Neil Holder 32 0.8 new
Majority 2,376 56.8 +53.9
Turnout 4,184
BLP gain from DLP Swing +29.8

St. Michael West Central

St. Michael West Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP George Gooding-Edghill 3,291 75.6 +29.0
DLP James Paul 865 19.9 -31.1
SB Angela Edey 125 2.9 new
Barbados Integrity Movement Steven Belgrave 46 1.1 new
UPP Herman Lowe 29 0.7 new
Majority 2,426 55.7 +51.3
Turnout 4,356
BLP gain from DLP Swing +30.0

St. Peter

St. Peter
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Colin Jordan 4,632 81.5 +17.4
DLP Dave Cumberbatch 911 16.0 -18.6
Barbados Integrity Movement Lynroy Scantlebury 139 2.4 new
Majority 3,721 65.5 +36.1
Turnout 5,682
BLP hold Swing +18.0

St. Philip North

St. Philip North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Sonia Browne 3,613 61.0 +28.2
DLP Michael Lashley 2,015 34.0 -33.2
SB Rosaline Corbin 203 3.4 new
UPP Nigel Newton 92 1.6 new
Majority 1,598 27.0 -7.5
Turnout 5,923
BLP gain from DLP Swing +30.7

St. Philip South

St. Philip South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Indar Weir 4,656 71.1 +24.1
DLP Adriel Brathwaite 1,488 22.7 -30.3
SB Ronald Lorde 239 3.6 new
UPP Bruce Hennis 127 1.9 new
Bajan Free Party John Scantlebury 39 0.6 new
Majority 3,168 48.4 +42.3
Turnout 6,549
BLP gain from DLP Swing +27.2

St. Philip West

St. Philip West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP John King 4,323 66.9 +28.6
DLP David Estwick 1,924 29.8 -31.9
SB Leighton Greenidge 212 3.3 new
Majority 2,399 37.1 +13.9
Turnout 6,459
BLP gain from DLP Swing +30.2

St. Thomas

St. Thomas
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BLP Cynthia Forde 5,038 85.7 +20.1
DLP Rolerick Hinds 635 10.8 -23.6
SB Pauline Corbin 206 3.5 new
Majority 4,403 74.9 +43.7
Turnout 5,879
BLP hold Swing +21.8

Aftermath

One week after the elections, Joseph Atherley, MP for St. Michael West, crossed the floor to become the House of Assembly's sole opposition member, citing concerns about democracy.[7] He was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition.[8] Originally sitting as an independent, he set up his own party, the People's Party for Democracy and Development.[9]

2020 St George North by-election

Main article: 2020 St George North by-election

A by-election was held in the constituency of St George North on 11 November 2020 following the resignation of Gline Clarke, who had represented the constituency for 26 years, to accept the post of Barbadian High Commissioner to Canada. It was the first by-election to take place since the 2018 general election.[10] Toni Moore retained the seat for the BLP.

See also

References

  1. ^ Barbados Election Centre Archived 2019-09-12 at the Wayback Machine Caribbean Elections
  2. ^ a b Barbados elects Mia Mottley as first woman PM BBC News, 25 May 2018
  3. ^ a b Report on 2018 election Archived 2019-09-12 at the Wayback Machine at Caribbean Elections
  4. ^ "Barbados Election Centre | Constituency of St. John". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  5. ^ Electoral system IPU
  6. ^ "Barbados General Election Candidates 2018". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  7. ^ George, Hudson (25 May 2020). "Grenada has an official opposition". Caribbean News Global. Retrieved 26 June 2021. In 2018, two CARICOM Member States, Grenada and Barbados held general elections with the same electoral results, whereby, one political party won all the seats contested. Grenada's prime minister Dr Keith Mitchell led the New National Party (NNP) retained power in a clean sweep over the New Democratic Congress Party (NDC) while the opposition party Barbados Labour Party (BLP) defeated the Freundel Stuart led Democratic Labour Party government (DLP) in the same clean sweep fashion. However, soon after the BLP was sworn into office, one of its elected members of parliament crossed the floor and become the opposition leader. Recently, in Grenada an elected member of parliament crossed the floor and become the opposition leader.
  8. ^ "Bishop Atherley now Leader of the Opposition". The Barbados Advocate. 2 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Atherley defends move to start new party". The Barbados Advocate. 7 September 2020.
  10. ^ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (5 October 2020). "Barbados Government Announces Date for By-election". Caribbean News. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
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