TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 1991

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Representatives

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1991

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO <<<

Chamber:

House of Representatives

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

16 December 1991

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

The election date was set in November 1991. The main campaign issues were the controversial economic austerity plan introduced by the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Government, the high rate of unemployment, the escalation in the crime rate, the deterioration of the public utilities and the alienation and pauperisation of the majority of the population. Altogether, 141 candidates and four political parties contested the election.
The polling brought the People’s National Movement (PNM) to power with 21 of the 36 seats in the House of Representatives. In the second political change in five years, the PNM rebounded after its defeat in the 1986 elections, in which PNM leader Patrick Manning had been one of only three members to win a seat, the centrist NAR taking the other 33. This time, however, the NAR retained only the two Tobago seats - one of them by Mr. A.N.R. Robinson, the outgoing Prime Minister. Mr. Manning was sworn in as new Prime Minister on 17 December and named his 24-member Cabinet a few days later. For the first time in the country’s history, a woman was appointed as the Speaker - Miss Occah Seapaul.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (16 December 1991): Elections results

Number of registered electors 794,486

Voters 522,472 (65.76%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 2,775

Valid votes 519,697

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

People’s National Movement (PNM) 36 233,950 45.02

United National Congress (UNC) 35 151,046 29.06

National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) 36 127,335 24.50

National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) 3 5,743 1.11

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

People’s National Movement (PNM) 21 +18

United National Congress (UNC) 13 +13

National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) 2 -31

National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) 1 +1

Comments:

Including the Speaker.

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 32

Women: 5

Distribution of seats according to age:

30-39 years 4

40-49 years 17

50-59 years 12

60-69 years 4

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Lawyers 9

Teachers & Lecturers 6

Businessmen 1

Human resource consultants 1

Geologists 2

Doctors 2

Others 15

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO <<<

Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	16 December 1991
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The election date was set in November 1991. The main campaign issues were the controversial economic austerity plan introduced by the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Government, the high rate of unemployment, the escalation in the crime rate, the deterioration of the public utilities and the alienation and pauperisation of the majority of the population. Altogether, 141 candidates and four political parties contested the election. The polling brought the People’s National Movement (PNM) to power with 21 of the 36 seats in the House of Representatives. In the second political change in five years, the PNM rebounded after its defeat in the 1986 elections, in which PNM leader Patrick Manning had been one of only three members to win a seat, the centrist NAR taking the other 33. This time, however, the NAR retained only the two Tobago seats - one of them by Mr. A.N.R. Robinson, the outgoing Prime Minister. Mr. Manning was sworn in as new Prime Minister on 17 December and named his 24-member Cabinet a few days later. For the first time in the country’s history, a woman was appointed as the Speaker - Miss Occah Seapaul.

Round no 1 (16 December 1991): Elections results
Number of registered electors	794,486
Voters	522,472 (65.76%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	2,775
Valid votes	519,697

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
People’s National Movement (PNM)	36	233,950	45.02
United National Congress (UNC)	35	151,046	29.06
National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR)	36	127,335	24.50
National Joint Action Committee (NJAC)	3	5,743	1.11

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
People’s National Movement (PNM)	21	+18
United National Congress (UNC)	13	+13
National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR)	2	-31
National Joint Action Committee (NJAC)	1	+1

Distribution of seats according to age:
30-39 years	4
40-49 years	17
50-59 years	12
60-69 years	4
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Lawyers	9
Teachers & Lecturers	6
Businessmen	1
Human resource consultants	1
Geologists	2
Doctors	2
Others	15