BARBADOS: parliamentary elections (House of Assembly, 2003)

BARBADOS
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Assembly

ELECTIONS HELD IN 2003

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for BARBADOS <<<

Chamber:

House of Assembly

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

21 May 2003

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for the seats of the House of Assembly following the premature dissolution of this body. Previous elections had been held in January 1999.

Background and outcome of elections:

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 per cent to 22.5 per cent in 2003 and then to 20 per cent 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.
About 219,000 of the island's 260,000 people were registered to vote and some 57 per cent effectively cast their ballots. Two seats were added to Parliament since the 1999 elections, which Mr. Arthur's party had swept with 26 seats as compared with only two for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
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 a total of 7.
On 23 May 2003, Mr. 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.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (21 May 2003): Elections results

Number of registered electors 218 811

Voters 124 463 (57 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 286

Valid votes 124 177

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 69 294 55.80

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) 54 746 44.09

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 23

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) 7

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 26

Women: 4

Percent of women: 13.33

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for BARBADOS <<<

Chamber:
	House of Assembly
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	21 May 2003
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for the seats of the House of Assembly following the premature dissolution of this body. Previous elections had been held in January 1999.
Background and outcome of elections:
	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 per cent to 22.5 per cent in 2003 and then to 20 per cent 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. About 219,000 of the island's 260,000 people were registered to vote and some 57 per cent effectively cast their ballots. Two seats were added to Parliament since the 1999 elections, which Mr. Arthur's party had swept with 26 seats as compared with only two for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). 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 a total of 7. On 23 May 2003, Mr. 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.

Round no 1 (21 May 2003): Elections results
Number of registered electors	218 811
Voters	124 463 (57 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	286
Valid votes	124 177

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)	69 294	55.80
Democratic Labour Party (DLP)	54 746	44.09

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)	23
Democratic Labour Party (DLP)	7

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	26
Women:	4
Percent of women:	13.33