Barbados General Election
Results - 18 June 1981 |
General elections were held in Barbados on 18 June 1981. Elections were held for all seats in the House of Assembly using a first-past-the-post system; the number of seats having been increased by three to 27.
Electoral System
The 27 members of the House of Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting. There was no fixed election date in effect in Barbados at this time; hence, the choice of election date is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.
Background
In 1980, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, increased the maximum number of seats in the House of Assembly from 24 to 27, the first increase since 1843. The 1981 elections were the third since Barbados attained independence from Britain in 1966.
On 26 May 1981, Governor-General Sir Deighton Ward issued a proclamation dissolving Parliament and Writs appointing Wednesday, 3 June 1981 as Nomination Day and Thursday, 18 June 1981 as Election Day.
There were 167,029 registered electors, 76,854 males and 90,175 females.
Political Parties & Candidates
Major contestants for the 27 seats of the newly-enlarged House of Assembly were, as in the past, the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP), led by Prime Minister J.M.G.M. (Tom) Adams, and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), headed by Errol Barrow, a former Prime Minister. Both were regarded as moderate parties. The BLP underlined its recent record in office, during which unemployment declined and per capita income rose, both to a considerable degree.
A total of 59 candidates from two political parties contested the election. The BLP and DLP both presented a full slate of 27 candiates. There were also five independent candidates.
Results
On polling day, Adams' BLP survived a strong challenge from former Barrow's DLP to win a second consecutive term of office as his party won the same number of seats (17) as before but had its parliamentary majority reduced because of the intervening expansion of the Assembly.
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout was 71.59%.
Post-election
On11 March 1985, Prime Minister Adams 'died suddenly at his official residence of a heart attack. Bernard St. John, the Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed Third Prime Minister of Barbados by Acting Governor-General Sir Arnot Cato. |
Dissolution of House |
Tue, 26 May 1981 |
 |
Nomination Day |
Wed, 3 June 1981 |
 |
Polling Day |
Thu, 18 June 1981 |
 |
First Meeting of Parliament |
- |
 |
|
|
|
|
BLP |
 |
27 candidates |
17 seats |
61,883 votes (52.2%) |
|
DLP |
 |
27 candidates |
10 seats |
55,845 votes (47.1%) |
|
IND |
|
5 candidates |
0 seats |
773 votes
(0.7%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Party |
Code |
Votes |
Candidates |
Seats |
Total |
% votes |
Change |
Number |
Change |
|
Barbados Labour Party  |
BLP |
61,883 |
52.22% |
-0.47% |
27 |
17 |
- |
 |
|
Democratic Labour Party |
DLP |
55,845 |
47.13% |
+0.69% |
27 |
10 |
+3 |
 |
|
Independent Candidates |
IND |
773 |
0.65% |
+0.36% |
5 |
0 |
- |
|
Total Valid Votes |
|
118,501 |
100% |
1% |
59 |
27 |
+3 |
|
|
|
Constituency |
|
Representative |
Party |
City of Bridgetown |
|
MILLER, Billie Antoinette |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Michael South |
|
SANDIFORD, Lloyd Erskine |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Michael East |
|
BLACKMAN, Donald G. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Michael South Central |
|
HAYNES, Richard Christopher |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Michael Central |
|
TRUSS, Aaron |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Michael South East |
|
BRADSHAW, Delisle |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Michael North East |
|
SISNETT, L. Leroy |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Michael North |
|
GREAVES, Philip M. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Michael North West |
|
WEEKES, Lawson A. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Michael West |
|
TAITT, Branford M. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Michael West Central |
|
JOHNSON, Victor |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church West |
|
FORDE, Henry deBoulay |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
|
KING, Maurice |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
|
ST. JOHN, Harold Bernard |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church East |
|
CHELTENHAM, Richard |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Philip North |
|
FRANKLIN, Warrick |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Philip South |
|
BLACKMAN, Harold |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St George North |
|
ODLE, Jack |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St George South |
|
TULL, Louis Randall |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St John |
|
BARROW, Errol Walton |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Joseph |
|
BOLDEN, Lindsay |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Thomas |
|
ADAMS, J.M.G.M |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St James North |
|
CRAIG, Lionel Seymour |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St James South |
|
SIMMONS, Neville Keith |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St Peter |
|
HINDS, W. Burton |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Andrew |
|
BRATHWAITE, Lloyd B. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St Lucy |
|
BRATHWAITE, Roy |
Barbados Labour Party |
|
|
Constituency |
|
Candidate |
Party |
Votes |
%Votes |
City of Bridgetown |
|
BILLIE A. MILLER  |
BLP |
2,089 |
51.05% |
|
Lyle S. Carmichael |
DLP |
2,003 |
48.95% |
 |
St. Michael South |
|
LLOYD E. SANDIFORD  |
DLP |
2,191 |
52.87% |
|
S. Howell |
BLP |
1,953 |
47.13% |
 |
St. Michael East |
|
DONALD BLACKMAN  |
BLP |
2,345 |
55.85% |
|
Ramases Caddle |
DBP |
1,854 |
44.15% |
 |
St. Michael South Central |
|
RICHARD C. HAYNES  |
DLP |
2,317 |
55.72% |
|
June Clarke |
BLP |
1,841 |
44.28% |
 |
St. Michael Central |
|
Aaron TRUSS  |
BLP |
2,130 |
52.04% |
|
Cardinal L. Trotman |
DLP |
1,899 |
46.40% |
|
Charles Hackett |
IND |
64 |
1.56% |
 |
St. Michael South East |
|
DeLISLE O. BRADSHAW  |
BLP |
2,245 |
52.82% |
|
Milton Pierce |
DLP |
2,005 |
47.18% |
 |
St. Michael North East |
|
L. LEROY SISNETT  |
BLP |
2,049 |
54.26% |
|
Leroy L. Brathwaite |
DLP |
1,727 |
45.74% |
 |
St. Michael North |
|
PHILLIP M. GREAVES  |
DLP |
2,108 |
52.17% |
|
Ezra Alleyne |
BLP |
1,933 |
47.83% |
 |
St. Michael North West |
|
LAWSON WEEKES  |
DLP |
2,133 |
53.05% |
|
A. Reece |
BLP |
1,790 |
44.52% |
|
Joseph Nathaniel Pile |
IND |
98 |
2.44% |
 |
St. Michael West |
|
BRANFORD M. TAITT  |
DLP |
2,431 |
60.26% |
|
R. Walker |
BLP |
1,603 |
39.74% |
 |
St. Michael West Central |
|
VICTOR JOHNSON  |
BLP |
1,944 |
50.68% |
|
Wesley W. Hall |
DLP |
1,892 |
49.32% |
 |
Christ Church West |
|
HENRY D. FORDE  |
BLP |
3,814 |
70.94% |
|
John Daniel |
DLP |
1,562 |
29.06% |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
|
MAURICE KING  |
DLP |
2,798 |
52.17% |
|
Maurice Ward |
BLP |
2,565 |
47.83% |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
|
HAROLD B. ST. JOHN  |
BLP |
2,507 |
58.44% |
|
R. Thomas |
DLP |
1,783 |
41.56% |
 |
Christ Church East |
|
RICHARD CHELTENHAM  |
BLP |
2,636 |
51.15% |
|
C. Best |
DLP |
2,517 |
48.85% |
 |
St. Philip North |
|
WARRICK O. FRANKLIN  |
DLP |
2,276 |
51.62% |
|
David A.C. Simmons |
BLP |
2,133 |
48.38% |
 |
St. Philip South |
|
HAROLD A. BLACKMAN  |
DLP |
2,453 |
54.50% |
|
Hutson Linton |
BLP |
2,048 |
45.50% |
 |
St. George North |
|
JACK ODLE  |
BLP |
2,610 |
60.42% |
|
Eyrie Hoppin |
DLP |
1,710 |
39.58% |
 |
St. George South |
|
LOUIS R. TULL  |
BLP |
3,095 |
67.77% |
|
G. Holder |
DLP |
1,472 |
32.23% |
 |
St. John |
|
ERROL W. BARROW  |
DLP |
3,659 |
82.45% |
|
John Williams |
BLP |
705 |
15.89% |
|
Evans McG. Webster |
IND |
74 |
1.67% |
 |
St. Joseph |
|
CHARLES L. BOLDEN  |
BLP |
2,848 |
63.96% |
|
D. Smith |
DLP |
1,605 |
36.04% |
 |
St. Thomas |
|
J.M.G.M. ADAMS |
BLP |
3,328 |
66.72% |
|
Neville Boxill |
DLP |
1,660 |
33.28% |
 |
St. James North |
|
LIONEL S. CRAIG  |
BLP |
2,527 |
63.33% |
|
Joseph Payne |
DLP |
1,463 |
36.67% |
 |
St. James South |
|
NEVILLE K. SIMMONS  |
DLP |
2,035 |
53.81% |
|
George W. Payne |
BLP |
1,747 |
46.19% |
 |
St. Peter |
|
W.C. BURTON HINDS  |
BLP |
2,637 |
51.85% |
|
Sybil Leacock |
DLP |
2,307 |
45.36% |
|
E. Green |
IND |
106 |
2.08% |
|
A. Wiggins |
IND |
36 |
0.71% |
 |
St. Andrew |
|
LLOYD B. BRATHWAITE  |
BLP |
2,257 |
53.11% |
|
Vernon Smith |
DLP |
1,598 |
37.60% |
|
A. Edwards |
IND |
395 |
9.29% |
 |
St. Lucy |
|
ROY BRATHWAITE  |
BLP |
2,504 |
51.16% |
|
Edward E. Greaves |
DLP |
2,390 |
48.84% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
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|
|
|
|
Constituency |
Registered |
BLP |
DLP |
IND |
Total Valid |
Invalid Votes |
Total Votes |
Turnout |
City of Bridgetown |
6,222 |
2,089 |
2,003 |
- |
4,092 |
44 |
4,136 |
66.47% |
 |
St Michael South |
6,340 |
1,953 |
2,191 |
- |
4,144 |
17 |
4,161 |
65.63% |
 |
St Michael East |
5,788 |
2,345 |
1,854 |
- |
4,199 |
47 |
4,246 |
73.36% |
 |
St Michael South Central |
6,005 |
1,841 |
2,317 |
- |
4,158 |
102 |
4,260 |
70.94% |
 |
St Michael Central |
5,938 |
2,130 |
1,899 |
64 |
4,093 |
33 |
4,126 |
69.48% |
 |
St Michael South East |
6,216 |
2,245 |
2,005 |
- |
4,250 |
18 |
4,268 |
68.66% |
 |
St Michael North East |
5,939 |
2,049 |
1,727 |
- |
3,776 |
35 |
3,811 |
64.17% |
 |
St Michael North |
5,966 |
1,933 |
2,108 |
- |
4,041 |
26 |
4,067 |
68.17% |
 |
St Michael North West |
5,915 |
1,790 |
2,133 |
98 |
4,021 |
40 |
4,061 |
68.66% |
 |
St Michael West |
6,296 |
1,603 |
2,431 |
- |
4,034 |
57 |
4,091 |
64.98% |
 |
St Michael West Central |
5,682 |
1,944 |
1,892 |
- |
3,836 |
67 |
3,903 |
68.69% |
 |
Christ Church West |
7,652 |
3,814 |
1,562 |
- |
5,376 |
25 |
5,401 |
70.58% |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
7,514 |
2,565 |
2,798 |
- |
5,363 |
29 |
5,392 |
71.76% |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
6,004 |
2,507 |
1,783 |
- |
4,290 |
21 |
4,311 |
71.80% |
 |
Christ Church East |
6,997 |
2,636 |
2,517 |
- |
5,153 |
53 |
5,206 |
74.40% |
 |
St Philip North |
5,693 |
2,133 |
2,273 |
- |
4,406 |
36 |
4,442 |
78.03% |
 |
St Philip South |
5,978 |
2,048 |
2,453 |
- |
4,501 |
29 |
4,530 |
75.78% |
 |
St George North |
6,049 |
2,610 |
1,710 |
- |
4,320 |
26 |
4,346 |
71.85% |
 |
St George South |
6,173 |
3,095 |
1,472 |
- |
4,567 |
39 |
4,606 |
74.62% |
 |
St John |
6,216 |
705 |
3,659 |
74 |
4,438 |
53 |
4,491 |
72.25% |
 |
St Joseph |
6,302 |
2,848 |
1,605 |
- |
4,453 |
43 |
4,496 |
71.34% |
 |
St Thomas |
6,658 |
3,328 |
1,660 |
- |
4,988 |
48 |
5,036 |
75.64% |
 |
St James North |
5,570 |
2,527 |
1,463 |
- |
3,990 |
33 |
4,023 |
72.23% |
 |
St James South |
5,290 |
1,747 |
2,035 |
- |
3,782 |
25 |
3,807 |
71.97% |
 |
St Peter |
6,796 |
2,637 |
2,307 |
142 |
5,086 |
35 |
5,121 |
75.35% |
 |
St Andrew |
5,711 |
2,257 |
1,598 |
395 |
4,250 |
36 |
4,286 |
75.05% |
 |
St Lucy |
6,119 |
2,504 |
2,390 |
- |
4,894 |
52 |
4,946 |
80.83% |
Total |
167,029 |
61,883 |
55,845 |
773 |
118,501 |
1,069 |
119,570 |
71.59% |
|
|
 |
Key |
|
Bajan Free Party |
|
NDP = National Democratic Party |
|
United Progressive Party |
|
Barbados Integrity Movement |
|
People's Democratic Congress |
|
WPB = Workers Party of Barbados |
|
Barbados
Labour Party |
|
PEP = People's Empowerment Party |
|
Independent Candidate |
|
Democratic
Labour Party |
|
PPA = People's Political Alliance |
|
*incumbent |
|
Kingdom Government of Barbados |
|
Solutions Barbados |
|
** Political Leader |
|
Sources |
Barbados Electoral and Boundaries Commission |
Bajan Free Party (2018). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/Bajan-Free-Party-BFP-HonAlex-MitchellEl-1767331239973521/ |
Barbados Integrity Movement (2018). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/barbdaosintegritymovement/?ref=py_c |
Barbados Labour Party. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.blp.org.bb/ |
Coalition of United Party. (2018) Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/alexmitchell.el/ |
Democratic Labour Party. (2018). Retrieved from http://dlpbarbados.org/site/ |
Solutions Barbados. (2018). Retrieved from https://solutionsbarbados.com/ |
United Progressive Party. (2018). Retrieved from https://uppbarbados.org/ |
Inter-Parliamentary Union. (2018). Barbados. Retrieved from http://archive.ipu.org/parline/reports/2025_E.htm |
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