The United Bahamian Party (UBP) was a major political party in the Bahamas in the 1950s and 1960s. Representing the interests of the white oligarchy known as the Bay Street Boys, it was the ruling party between 1958 and 1967.[1] It was led by Roland Theodore Symonette.
It was established in 1956 as the Christian Democratic Party to oppose the black-dominated Progressive Liberal Party,[2][3] which had emerged as the largest party in the 1956 elections with six seats, although 22 MPs had been elected as independents. Following the 1958 general strike, it was renamed the United Bahamian Party.[2] Despite receiving fewer votes than the black-dominated Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the UBP won the 1962 general elections,[4] largely as a result of gerrymandering.[1] However, the 1967 elections saw a reversal in fortunes as the UBP received more votes, but won the same number of seats as the PLP. The PLP formed a government with the support of the sole Labour Party MP. Following the election the UBP accused the PLP of gerrymandering.[1]
In early elections the following year, support for the UBP slumped and it won only seven of the 38 seats. In 1971 it merged with the Free Progressive Liberal Party, a breakaway from the ruling party,[1] to form the Free National Movement.
united, bahamian, party, major, political, party, bahamas, 1950s, 1960s, representing, interests, white, oligarchy, known, street, boys, ruling, party, between, 1958, 1967, roland, theodore, symonette, leaderroland, theodore, symonettefounded1956, christian, d. The United Bahamian Party UBP was a major political party in the Bahamas in the 1950s and 1960s Representing the interests of the white oligarchy known as the Bay Street Boys it was the ruling party between 1958 and 1967 1 It was led by Roland Theodore Symonette United Bahamian PartyLeaderRoland Theodore SymonetteFounded1956 as the Christian Democratic Party 1 March 1958 as the United Bahamian Party DissolvedOctober 1971Merged intoFree National MovementIdeologyConservatismWhite minority interestsPolitics of BahamasPolitical partiesElectionsHistory EditIt was established in 1956 as the Christian Democratic Party to oppose the black dominated Progressive Liberal Party 2 3 which had emerged as the largest party in the 1956 elections with six seats although 22 MPs had been elected as independents Following the 1958 general strike it was renamed the United Bahamian Party 2 Despite receiving fewer votes than the black dominated Progressive Liberal Party PLP the UBP won the 1962 general elections 4 largely as a result of gerrymandering 1 However the 1967 elections saw a reversal in fortunes as the UBP received more votes but won the same number of seats as the PLP The PLP formed a government with the support of the sole Labour Party MP Following the election the UBP accused the PLP of gerrymandering 1 In early elections the following year support for the UBP slumped and it won only seven of the 38 seats In 1971 it merged with the Free Progressive Liberal Party a breakaway from the ruling party 1 to form the Free National Movement Electoral performance EditYear Votes Seats1962 26 500 36 1 18 331967 19 408 45 0 18 381968 12 371 26 6 7 38References Edit a b c d Dieter Nohlen 2005 Elections in the Americas A data handbook Volume I p 73 ISBN 978 0 19 928357 6 a b Plural Political Parties in the Bahamas Pt 2 permanent dead link The Nassau Guardian 7 December 2015 Robert J Alexander 1982 Political parties of the Americas Guadeloupe Virgin Islands of the United States Greenwoord Press p772 Nohlen pp81 82 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United Bahamian Party amp oldid 1059913413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
