Barbados General Election
Results - 21 May 2003 |
General elections were held in Barbados on 21 May 2003. Elections were held for all seats in the House of Assembly using a first-past-the-post system. The number of seats increased from 28 to 30.
Electoral System
The 30 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
The Writs for the Elections were issued on 25 April 2003 appointing Nomination Day as Tuesday, 6 May 2003 and Election Day as Wednesday, 21 May 2003. On Monday, 28 April 2003 the Governor General also appointed Thursday, 15 May 2003 as the Polling Day for Foreign Service Electors and Special Polling Day for Election Officers.
There were 220,093 registered electors, 104,304 males and 115,789 females.
Political Parties & Candidates
A total of 62 candidates contested the election. The two major parties - the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) - led by Owen Artur, and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) - led by Clyde Mascoll - both presented a full slate of 30 candidates. There were also 2 independent candidates.
Election Campaign
For the May 2003 election, the campaign mainly focused on economic issues. In this Caribbean island, with some of the highest taxes in the region, the two parties contesting the election pledged to add jobs and cut taxes. In 2002, the Labour Party's government had presented a plan to reduce income taxes from 25% to 22.5% in 2003 and then to 20% in 2004.
Although Barbados has one of the region's strongest economies, unemployment in 2002 stood at 10.3 per cent, up from 9.9 per cent in 2001. During the campaign, Prime Minister Owen Arthur suggested diversifying the economy - based largely on tourism, banking, and insurance - by proposing incentives to artists and craftsmen to encourage small enterprises, while the opposition accused the government of wasteful spending, and suggested cutting taxes on workers and providing training for the workforce to ensure Barbados remains competitive.
Results
In the 2003 legislative elections, the Labour Party (BLP) also won a landslide victory, as it emerged with 23 seats out of 30. Although it was a convincing victory for the BLP, the opposition DLP was able to pick up 5 new seats for 7 previously.
On 23 May 2003, Owen Arthur was sworn in as Prime Minister for his third term in office. Three days later, all the 17 members of the Cabinet were as well officially sworn in.
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout was 61.03%. |
|
Dissolution of House |
Fri, 25 Apr 2003 |
 |
Nomination Day |
Tue, 6 May 2003 |
 |
Polling Day |
Wed, 21 May 2003 |
 |
First Meeting of Parliament |
Fri, 6 June 2003 |
 |
|
|
|
|
BLP |
 |
30 candidates |
23
seats |
66,132 votes (55.6%) |
|
DLP |
 |
30
candidates |
7
seats |
52,668 votes (44.3%) |
|
IND |
|
2
candidates |
0
seats |
141 votes
(0.1%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Party |
Code |
Votes |
Candidates |
Seats |
Total |
% votes |
Change |
Number |
Change |
|
Barbados Labour Party  |
BLP |
66,132 |
55.60% |
-9.27% |
30 |
23 |
-3 |
 |
|
Democratic Labour Party |
DLP |
52,668 |
44.28% |
+9.20% |
30 |
7 |
+5 |
 |
|
Independent Candidates |
IND |
141 |
0.12% |
-0.17% |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
Total Valid Votes |
|
118,941 |
100% |
0% |
62 |
30 |
+2 |
|
|
|
Constituency |
|
Representative |
Party |
City of Bridgetown |
|
MILLER, Billie Antoinette |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael South |
|
LYNCH, Noel A. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael East |
|
PRESCOD, Trevor A. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael South Central |
|
SEALY, Richard L. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael Central |
|
ROETT, Ismael A. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael South East |
|
LASHLEY, Hamilton F. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael North East |
|
MOTTLEY, Mia Amor |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael North |
|
TOPPIN, Ronald St. C |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael North West |
|
MASCOLL, Clyde A. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael West |
|
ATHERLEY, Joseph J.S. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Michael West Central |
|
MARSHALL, Rommell D. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church West |
|
DUGUID, William F. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
|
EDGHILL, Joseph M. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church South |
|
WALCOTT, Jerome X. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
|
JONES, Ronald D. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
Christ Church East |
|
FARLEY, Reginald R. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Philip North |
|
LASHLEY, Michael A. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St. Philip South |
|
WOOD, Anthony P. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Philip West |
|
ESTWICK , David C. |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St. George North |
|
CLARKE , Gline A. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. George South |
|
TULL, Louis R. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. John |
|
THOMPSON, David John Howard |
Democratic Labour Party |
 |
St. Joseph |
|
MARSHALL, Dale D. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Thomas |
|
FORDE, Cynthia Y. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. James North |
|
EASTMOND , Rawle C. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. James South |
|
THOMPSON, Henrietta E. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. James Central |
|
SYMMONDS, Kerrie D. |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Peter |
|
ARTHUR, Owen Seymour |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Andrew |
|
PAYNE, George Walton |
Barbados Labour Party |
 |
St. Lucy |
|
KELLMAN, Denis |
Democratic Labour Party |
|
|
Constituency |
|
Candidate |
Party |
Votes |
%Votes |
City of Bridgetown |
|
BILLIE A. MILLER  |
BLP |
1,973 |
54.28% |
|
Patrick Μ.Τ Todd |
DLP |
1,561 |
42.94% |
|
Danny L. Gill |
IND |
101 |
2.78% |
 |
St. Michael South |
|
NOEL A. LYNCH  |
BLP |
1,937 |
51.54% |
|
Freundel J Stuart |
DLP |
1,821 |
48.46% |
 |
St. Michael East |
|
TREVOR A. PRESCOD  |
BLP |
2,417 |
57.06% |
|
Kenneth S Best |
DLP |
1,819 |
42.94% |
 |
St. Michael South Central |
|
RICHARD L. SEALY  |
DLP |
2,108 |
52.15% |
|
David T. Gill |
BLP |
1,934 |
47.85% |
 |
St. Michael Central |
|
ISHMAEL A. ROETT  |
BLP |
2,062 |
51.58% |
|
Steven D Blackett |
DLP |
1,936 |
48.42% |
 |
St. Michael South East |
|
HAMILTON F. LASHLEY  |
BLP |
3,416 |
74.72% |
|
Undine P. Whittaker |
DLP |
1,116 |
24.41% |
|
Peter M. Prescod |
IND |
40 |
0.87% |
 |
St. Michael North East |
|
MIA A. MOTTLEY  |
BLP |
3,724 |
79.88% |
|
Hermon O. Lowe |
DLP |
938 |
20.12% |
 |
St. Michael North |
|
RONALD St.C TOPPIN  |
BLP |
2,634 |
59.28% |
|
Jean A. Chase-Sealy |
DLP |
1,809 |
40.72% |
 |
St. Michael North West |
|
CLYDE A. MASCOLL  |
DLP |
2,450 |
57.99% |
|
Mark Z. Williams |
BLP |
1,775 |
42.01% |
 |
St. Michael West |
|
JOSEPH J.S. ATHERLEY  |
BLP |
2,046 |
52.26% |
|
Michael A. Carrington |
DLP |
1,869 |
47.74% |
 |
St. Michael West Central |
|
ROMMELL D. MARSHALL  |
BLP |
2,679 |
61.08% |
|
Marilyn R. Rice-Bowen |
DLP |
1,707 |
38.92% |
 |
Christ Church West |
|
WILLIAM F. DUGUID  |
BLP |
2,622 |
64.58% |
|
Peter A. Barrøw |
DLP |
1,438 |
35.42% |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
|
JOSEPH M. EDGHILL  |
BLP |
2,361 |
54.51% |
|
Laurence E. Clarke |
DLP |
1,970 |
45.49% |
 |
Christ Church South |
|
JEROME X. WALCOTT  |
BLP |
2,177 |
50.69% |
|
John D.E. Boyce |
DLP |
2,118 |
49.31% |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
|
RONALD D. JONES  |
DLP |
2,524 |
52.94% |
|
Rudy W. Grant |
BLP |
2,244 |
47.06% |
 |
Christ Church East |
|
REGINALD R. FARLEY  |
BLP |
2,510 |
53.43% |
|
Denis S. Lowe |
DLP |
2,188 |
46.57% |
 |
St. Philip North |
|
MICHAEL A. LASHLEY  |
DLP |
2,809 |
56.52% |
|
Rudolph N. Greenidge |
BLP |
2,161 |
43.48% |
 |
St. Philip South |
|
ANTHONY P. WOOD  |
BLP |
2,989 |
57.37% |
|
Neval Greenidge |
DLP |
2,221 |
42.63% |
 |
St Philip West |
|
DAVID C. ESTWICK  |
DLP |
2,714 |
54.57% |
|
Lynette V. Eastmond |
BLP |
2,259 |
45.43% |
 |
St. George North |
|
GLINE A. CLARKE  |
BLP |
3,398 |
60.07% |
|
Desmond A. Browne |
DLP |
1,447 |
29.87% |
 |
St. George South |
|
LOUIS R. TULL  |
BLP |
2,653 |
56.52% |
|
Douglas L.M. Hoyte |
DLP |
2,041 |
43.48% |
 |
St. John |
|
DAVID J.H. THOMPSON  |
DLP |
3,703 |
79.50% |
|
Errol C. Crawford |
BLP |
955 |
20.50% |
 |
St. Joseph |
|
DALE D. MARSHALL  |
BLP |
2,290 |
50.87% |
|
Randall DaC. Rouse |
DLP |
2,212 |
49.13% |
 |
St. Thomas |
|
CYNTHIA Y. FORDE  |
BLP |
3,523 |
76.16% |
|
Patsie M. Nurse |
DLP |
1,103 |
23.84% |
 |
St. James North |
|
RAWLE C. EASTMOND  |
BLP |
2,458 |
64.57% |
|
Leonard A.B. Husbands |
DLP |
1,349 |
35.43% |
 |
St. James South |
|
HENRIETTA E. THOMPSON  |
BLP |
2,873 |
60.71% |
|
Franklyn DaC. Stephenson |
DLP |
1,859 |
39.29% |
 |
St James Central |
|
KERRIE D.SIMMONS  |
BLP |
2,061 |
52.86% |
|
Edwin G. Hutson |
DLP |
1,838 |
47.14% |
 |
St. Peter |
|
OWEN S. ARTHUR  |
BLP |
3,788 |
81.13% |
|
Nigel O. Harper |
DLP |
881 |
18.87% |
 |
St. Andrew |
|
GEORGE W.PAYNE  |
BLP |
2,852 |
66.11% |
|
Daniel N. Jordan |
DLP |
1,462 |
33.89% |
 |
St. Lucy |
|
DENIS St. E. KELLMAN  |
DLP |
3,198 |
57.85% |
|
Richard D. Arthur |
BLP |
2,330 |
42.15% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Caribbean Elections provides comprehensive information on the electoral process, politics, and citizenship in the Caribbean. The portal includes election data and resources for the public, teachers, students, and researchers. |
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|
|
|
Constituency |
Registered |
BLP |
DLP |
IND |
Total Valid |
Invalid Votes |
Total Votes |
Turnout |
City of Bridgetown |
6,578 |
1,973 |
1,561 |
101 |
3,635 |
24 |
3,659 |
55.62% |
 |
St. Michael South |
6,691 |
1,937 |
1,821 |
- |
3,758 |
30 |
3,788 |
56.61% |
 |
St. Michael East |
7,173 |
2,417 |
1,819 |
- |
4,236 |
30 |
4,266 |
59.47% |
 |
St. Michael South Central |
6,695 |
1,934 |
2,108 |
- |
4,042 |
40 |
4,082 |
60.97% |
 |
St. Michael Central |
6,599 |
2,062 |
1,936 |
- |
3,998 |
32 |
4,030 |
61.07% |
 |
St. Michael South East |
7,423 |
3,416 |
1,116 |
40 |
4,572 |
24 |
4,596 |
61.92% |
 |
St. Michael North East |
7,378 |
3,724 |
938 |
- |
4,662 |
39 |
4,701 |
63.72% |
 |
St. Michael North |
7,464 |
2,634 |
1,809 |
- |
4,443 |
23 |
4,466 |
59.83% |
 |
St. Michael North West |
6,668 |
1,775 |
2,450 |
- |
4,225 |
26 |
4,251 |
63.75% |
 |
St. Michael West |
6,797 |
2,046 |
1,869 |
- |
3,915 |
36 |
3,951 |
58.13% |
 |
St. Michael West Central |
7,231 |
2,679 |
1,707 |
- |
4,386 |
38 |
4,424 |
61.18% |
 |
Christ Church West |
7,509 |
2,622 |
1,438 |
- |
4,060 |
16 |
4,076 |
54.28% |
 |
Christ Church West Central |
7,794 |
2,361 |
1,970 |
- |
4,331 |
27 |
4,358 |
55.91% |
 |
Christ Church South |
7,693 |
2,177 |
2,118 |
- |
4,295 |
15 |
4,310 |
56.02% |
 |
Christ Church East Central |
7,640 |
2,244 |
2,524 |
- |
4,768 |
19 |
4,787 |
62.66% |
 |
Christ Church East |
7,387 |
2,510 |
2,188 |
- |
4,698 |
33 |
4,731 |
64.04% |
 |
St. Philip North |
7,704 |
2,161 |
2,809 |
- |
4,970 |
24 |
4,994 |
64.82% |
 |
St. Philip South |
8,270 |
2,989 |
2,221 |
- |
5,210 |
28 |
5,238 |
63.34% |
 |
St. Philip West |
7,533 |
2,259 |
2,714 |
- |
4,973 |
39 |
5,012 |
66.53% |
 |
St. George North |
7,625 |
3,398 |
1,447 |
- |
4,845 |
34 |
4,879 |
63.99% |
 |
St. George South |
7,856 |
2,653 |
2,041 |
- |
4,694 |
38 |
4,732 |
60.23% |
 |
St. John |
7,733 |
956 |
3,703 |
- |
4,659 |
34 |
4,693 |
60.69% |
 |
St. Joseph |
6,988 |
2,290 |
2,212 |
- |
4,502 |
30 |
4,532 |
64.85% |
 |
St. Thomas |
7,895 |
3,523 |
1,103 |
- |
4,626 |
24 |
4,650 |
58.90% |
 |
St. James North |
6,557 |
2,458 |
1,349 |
- |
3,807 |
19 |
3,826 |
58.35% |
 |
St. James South |
7,754 |
2,873 |
1,859 |
- |
4,732 |
18 |
4,750 |
61.26% |
 |
St. James Central |
6,901 |
2,061 |
1,838 |
- |
3,899 |
21 |
3,920 |
56.80% |
 |
St. Peter |
7,424 |
3,788 |
881 |
- |
4,669 |
41 |
4,710 |
63.44% |
 |
St. Andrew |
7,205 |
2,852 |
1,462 |
- |
4,314 |
39 |
4,353 |
60.42% |
 |
St. Lucy |
7,928 |
2,330 |
3,198 |
- |
5,528 |
20 |
5,548 |
69.98% |
Total |
220,093 |
75,102 |
58,209 |
141 |
133,452 |
861 |
134,313 |
61.03% |
|
|
 |
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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