History
The New Democratic Party was founded in Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines on 3rd December 1975. The then leader was James Fitz-Allen Mitchell commonly referred to by his peers as “Son Mitchell”.
Mitchell took charge of the launching ceremony of the party.
In 1979 the New Democratic Party contested the general elections, the same year that La. Soufriere Volcano had its last major eruption. The public awarded the NDP with two seats in our then 13 seat parliament.
Five years later the NDP romped home with nine (9) of the thirteen (13) seats, making Mitchell this country’s second Prime Minister. By way of a bye –election, when then Labour Party leader Hon. Robert Milton Cato closed the last chapter of his political book; the NDP gained an additional seat advantage.
For four consecutive terms the New Democratic Party succeeded at the polls.
In 1984: 10 – 3 to 11 – 2
In 1989: 15 – 0
In 1994: 12 – 3
In 1998: 8 – 7
So far the NDP has been the first and only political party in St. Vincent & the Grenadines to have won all the seats in national elections.
The development of the tourism industry has been one of the major pillars of economic development for St. Vincent & the Grenadines spearheaded by the New Democratic Party.
When the NDP embarked upon the land reform/distribution programme which placed lands into the hands of the landless, our economy boomed.
When Sir James Mitchell, as he is now called, departed elective politics the Hon. Arnhim Ulric Eustace was elected President of the NDP and took over as this country’s third Prime Minister.
Eustace has led the NDP since 2001 and Under Eustace’s leadership the NDP has grown and become more democratic with the Central Executive and party delegates more involved in the election and selection of the Executive Members of the party
Read more about this topic: New Democratic Party (Saint Vincent And The Grenadines)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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